Athletes
Welcome to the Tifosi Optics sponsored athletes page. Spend time learning about some of the talented teams and individuals that we have the pleasure of working with at Tifosi H.Q. From the streets of the Tour of California to the lakes of Georgia, these athletes are putting Tifosi Optics shades to the test. Click a link below to read more on that team or athlete’s mission, goals, and progress throughout the year.
After a successful 2008, the Vanderkitten womens cycling team is back in 2009 with a mix of returning riders and new talent from across the globe. Committed to promoting and fostering the growth of womens athletics, Vanderkitten clothing has put together a group of dynamic women that shine both on and off the bike. These ladies are living examples of the tremendous impact athletics have on women from all walks of life. When they are not racing, you can find the ladies of Vanderkitten promoting womens cycling through personal appearances and clinics across the country. Visit their site at: www.vanderkitten.com/racing.html.
MARCH 24, 2009
Vanderkitten Kicks Off the 2009 Season
The 2009 Vanderkitten team is ready for action armed with all new white Tifosi sunglasses and a need to dominate any race they enter. Learn a little more about the team by reading their bios and be sure to keep up with their Redlands results March 26-29 2009.
Liz Hatch
Liz is the founding member of Vanderkitten Racing and joined Vanderkitten in late 2006. Liz is considered to be one of the most unselfish riders in the women's peloton and will do the hard work to get her team on the podium. Considered to be one of the most popular cyclists in America, Liz shares her personal path to becoming one of cycling's top talent with all of her fans.
Leigh Hopkins
After a head start in the mid-90s as a mountain bike racer, Leigh moved over to road racing in 2000. Leigh joined Vanderkitten Racing in late 2007 as a guest rider in Las Vegas after racing with Target Training. Her experience and guidance led her to being selected as the team captain for 2008. Leigh's powerful riding and strong finishing have given her excellent results in the NRC and USA Crits Series.
Melissa Sanborn
One of the most experienced and strongest women in any field, Melissa uses her confidence to ride at the front of the peloton. A feared sprinter and excellent tactician, Melissa has many wins domestically and abroad and is looking to add several more this season. She'll be spending a few weeks abroad representing Vanderkitten in Spain and beyond!
Jennifer Wilson
Jen joined Vanderkitten in the spring of 2008 and quickly found her way on to the podium at the Athens Twilight. Serving the role as protected sprinter, Jen led the USA Crits individual points for most of the season over prestigious competition like Cheerwine and Aaron's.
Liz Williams
Liz is a Kiwi Track sprinter who has competed in the Commonwealth Games and World Cup track racing. She has turned her focus onto crits where her ability to come out on top in a bunch sprint is greatly rewarded. Liz will be joining Vanderkitten in April for the 2009 season. Liz is a PhD student studying Forensics and Bio Mechanics and her proximity to Oakland should provide some invaluable field experience.
Melodie Metzger
Melodie began her cycling career in college as a mountain biker, quickly moving to the pro ranks and transitioning to cyclocross and road. She excels in her ability to find the proper wheel in the pack, making the break and closing the gaps with her punchy sprint. Melodie is a full time PhD student at Cal and balances her training with her education. Melodie still finds time to support the Nor Cal High School mountain bike league and getting juniors involved in cycling.
Virginia Perkins
A former runner, Virginia took up bike racing in 2006. Virginia manages to be one of Northern California's strongest racers while practicing Law at the same time. A balance in life, like her racing, helps her achieve top results in both professions. Virginia's rapid rise through the amateur ranks can be attributed to her incredible power delivery and ability to bridge to break aways with the best riders, solo. At 5′11″, Virginia is lean and mean on the bike and soft spoken and warm off the bike.
Laura Bowles
Laura is a veteran of powerhouse teams like Victory Brewing and Advil Chapstick and excels at crit racing. On her "off days" racing she still manages some serious results with the best of the best. Laura is new the Vanderkitten squad this season and brings team co-management experience from Advil and a long list of outstanding results!
APRIL 28, 2008
Cheerwine and Vanderkitten Shine At Twilight
Picture it: 30,000 screaming college co-eds eager for their last
hurrah before finals,
massive
floodlights and hay bails surrounding a tight and fast downtown course
and dozens of eager riders vying for the title of 2008 Athens
TwilightCriterium Champion.
This year marked the 28th running of what has been called the best-and fastest- criterium race in the country. Held just down the road from Tifosi H.Q. in Athens, Ga., a top result at Twilight is on every professional's wish list.
With Tifosi supporting several teams in the pro women's race including Advil-Chapstick, Cheerwine and Vanderkitten, the odds of seeing a Tifosi athlete on the podium were high. With such a fast and unpredictable course, the outcome of the race can change in an instant.
Despite the risk, our teams did not disappoint. The winning break, including Cheerwine's Catherine Cheatley and Vanderkitten's Jennifer Wilson, stayed away from the field and earned Catherine and Jennifer second and third place respectively.
Suffice it to say, both Cheerwine and Vanderkitten's racing seasons are off to a great start. If you missed the action the first time around, click here to read the play-by-play on Cyclingnews.com and be sure to keep an eye on these talented ladies throughout the season.