Kate Chilcott in Vanderkitten Focus kit at the NSW GP last weekend ©Anthony Sill Photography

Dec 1st, 11. Kiwi speedster Kate Chilcott is joining fellow Kiwi Emily Collins in US team Vanderkitten Focus for the 2012 season.

"I'm stoked about the Kiwi double up!" Vanderkitten Focus Director Jono Coulter told RoadCycling.co.nz.

"All the US teams have these superstar riders, but these 20 year old Aussie and Kiwi kids are just hard as nails. Kate will come over relatively unknown and she is going to be FAST!"

20 year Chilcott had her first season as a Kiwi international this year with team FCS Women's Cycling Team based in Texas. 

Her speed saw her win a stage at the Fayettevelle Stage Race and take a swag of podium places. She also impressed with 12th place in the UCI 1.1 Liberty Classic in Philadelphia.

In her 2011 season roundup she told RoadCycling.co.nz her best attribute was not knowing who to be intimidated by!

"Kate really impressed me in her first stint in the USA this year," said Coulter. "There is something about these young Kiwis who come over here with a never say die attitude. Combine that with some of the natural speed that Kate has, and the fact that she is a fun personality, I think Vanderkitten Focus has a new treasure of women's cycling.

"We signed Emily Collins last year after the NSW GP, we figured we had to acquire her teammate before the GP this year before someone else found her!" he said.

Chilcott told RoadCycling.co.nz she enjoyed her first outing in Vanderkitten Focus kit - last weekend's NSW GP in Australia was her first race after coming back from the US in July.

"I am very excited to be racing for Vanderkitten next year. The setup is solid and the team is looking very strong. As well as doing the NRC circuit, California also has a lot of local races which will be awesome," she said.

The Aucklander is heading to join the team in the US after February's NZCT Women's Tour of New Zealand in the Manawatu - where she placed 10th overall and 2nd to Collins in the U23 classification this year. 

"I think I will be based in Northern California, which is a bit cooler and more hilly than Texas, which will be nice. Texas was very hot all the time, although we stayed with a super nice host family there," she said.

Chilcott is continuing her summer build-up at the Festival of Cycling in Christchurch this weekend.