3) Where is the most memorable place you have ridden?

I did a solo ride when I first started out from Bellagio into Switzerland and back. It was stunning and very challenging for me at the time. 

4) What's the most memorable meal you've ever had?

I think I was around 20 years old at the time, and I had just gotten back into Pisa after a night out in Florence and ran into my Great Aunt at around 6am as she was doing her morning shopping. She took one look at me and dragged me back to her apartment where she made me the most delicious rabbit ragu I have ever had. I actually have a lot of recipes that are based off of her technique. It was magnificent.

5) How has working in a kitchen helped you in the peloton?

Ha! That’s an excellent question. The communication is probably the most obvious, in a kitchen you are always letting people know where you are so you don’t slam into each other (on your left, on your right, behind, reaching above, below you, etc) call backs also make a lot of sense in the peloton, whenever people call out an object, car, etc I always call it back to confirm I’ve heard them. (car back, hole, etc), which we do in the kitchen all the time. (order fire 2 dory, one lamb—— “2 dory 1 Lamb heard” )  You are also just used to being very close to people in general in hot conditions for hours at a time, so you tend to have pretty good spatial awareness and are comfortable rubbing elbows and shoulders. 

6) What is your favorite ride/route, and what meal are you pairing with it afterward?

Yerba is def one my fave roads, right there with Latigo. Prospect Park laps are fast and fun especially with the new pavement. Roads around Katonah are excellent, as are a lot of the rollers in Westchester. My go to is a smoothie with whey protein, almond milk, almond butter, frozen banana and blueberry, olive oil, sea salt. I am often times consuming this in the shower like a weirdo. 

7) What's the one spice or ingredient you can't cook without?

Lemon and very good olive oil 

8) If you could go on a ride with one pro cyclist and a chef who would you choose?

I would love to ride with Isaac Del Toro Romero. As far as a chef goes, that’s easy….my buddy Freddy who i’ve worked with and known forever. His restaurant Aska is excellent and he is prettyyyyyy fucking fast. 

9) Is pineapple on pizza ever acceptable?

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