(1987-12-06) 6 December 1987 (age 35) Salisbury, England, United Kingdom
Height
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight
65 kg (143 lb)
Team information
Current team
Atherton Racing
Discipline
BMX & MTB
Role
Rider
Rider type
DH
Professional teams
2007–2011
Animal Commençal
2011–2015
GT
2015–2018
Trek Factory Racing
2018–
Atherton Bikes
Major wins
DH World Champion (x5) DH World Cup (x6 overall, 37 rounds) DH European Champion DH National Champion (x6) DH Junior World Champion DH Junior European Champion
Atherton began riding BMX at the age of 8 and mountain biking at the age of 11.[1] She was both Sunday Times' Sportswoman of the Year[2] and BBC Midlands Junior Sportswoman of the Year[3] in 2005, and then BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year in 2008.[4] In October 2015, a video of Atherton overtaking 91 competitors in five minutes during a race went viral.[5]
For 5 years from 2007, Atherton was part of the Animal Commençal race team along with brothers Dan Atherton and Gee Atherton. In 2012, Atherton, along with her brothers Dan, Gee and Marc Beaumont, signed with GT Bicycles. In 2015, Atherton and her brothers signed with Trek Bicycle Corporation to race for Trek Atherton Racing.[6]
Atherton was involved in a collision with a pickup truck whilst on a time trial training ride with her brothers Dan and Gee in Santa Cruz, California, on 18 January 2009.[8] She sustained a dislocated shoulder which, after later needing a nerve graft,[9] ruled her out of the 2009 racing season, including the September World Championships in Canberra.[10]
In September 2012, Atherton took the final World Cup round on a diverse and testing Norwegian track and clinched the overall title, despite missing the opening race of the season. The Norwegian race was the final round of a seven-round series in which Atherton claimed a win in 5 of the 6 events she raced.
In June 2016, Atherton became the first woman to win 10 consecutive rounds of the World Cup, surpassing the record previously held by Anne-Caroline Chausson.[11] In September that same year, she also achieved the unprecedented feat of winning every round in a World Cup season.[12]
Personal life
Atherton keeps the rainbow jerseys she won for being world champion in a birdcage, so that she can "take them out, touch them and remember those races.".[13]
Atherton gave birth to a daughter on 4 August 2021.[14]
^. British Cycling. 16 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
^"Atherton awarded Young Sportswoman". Cycling News. November 2005.
^. BBC Shropshire. 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
^"Rachel Atherton wins BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year!". Pinkbike. 8 December 2008.
^"Red Bull Foxhunt with Rachel Atherton". Red Bull. October 2015.
^"Atherton Racing + Trek". Pinkbike. 11 November 2015.
^"Gee and Rachel Atherton will remember the 21st of June 2008 for a long time". Union Cycliste Internationale. 21 June 2008.
^"Rachel Atherton Car Crash Accident". Pinkbike.com. 20 January 2009.
^. AnimalCommencal. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009.
^. Atherton Racing. 12 August 2009. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009.
^Smurthwaite, James (12 June 2016). "Leogang World Cup 2016: Rachel Atherton takes record breaking tenth consecutive win". dirtmountainbike.com. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^"Rachel Atherton wins women's race: 2016 Vallnord World Cup". dirtmountainbike.com. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^"Rachel Atherton: British mountain biker goes for fifth downhill World Championship title". BBC Sport. 4 September 2018.
^Smurthwaite, James (9 August 2021). "Rachel Atherton Announces Birth of Baby Daughter Arna". pinkbike.
External links
Rachel Atherton at Cycling Archives
athertonracing.co.uk
An interview with the Athertons, Steve Thomas, Cycling News, 6 September 2007
January 06, 2023
rachel, atherton, rachel, laura, atherton, born, december, 1987, british, professional, downhill, mountain, bike, racer, multiple, time, world, champion, august, 2008personal, informationfull, namerachel, laura, athertonnicknamewayneheadborn, 1987, december, 1. Rachel Laura Atherton born 6 December 1987 is a British professional downhill mountain bike racer and is a multiple time UCI World Champion Rachel AthertonRachel Atherton in August 2008Personal informationFull nameRachel Laura AthertonNicknameWayneheadBorn 1987 12 06 6 December 1987 age 35 Salisbury England United KingdomHeight1 70 m 5 ft 7 in Weight65 kg 143 lb Team informationCurrent teamAtherton RacingDisciplineBMX amp MTBRoleRiderRider typeDHProfessional teams2007 2011Animal Commencal2011 2015GT2015 2018Trek Factory Racing2018 Atherton BikesMajor winsDH World Champion x5 DH World Cup x6 overall 37 rounds DH European ChampionDH National Champion x6 DH Junior World ChampionDH Junior European ChampionMedal record Women s mountain bike racingRepresenting Great BritainWorld Championships2008 Val Di Sol Downhill2013 Pietermaritzburg Downhill2015 Vallnord Downhill2016 Val di Sole Downhill2018 Lenzerheide Downhill2007 Fort William Downhill2011 Champery Downhill2014 Hafjell Downhill2006 Rotorua Downhill2005 Livigno Downhill junior 2004 Les Gets Downhill junior Atherton began riding BMX at the age of 8 and mountain biking at the age of 11 1 She was both Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2 and BBC Midlands Junior Sportswoman of the Year 3 in 2005 and then BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year in 2008 4 In October 2015 a video of Atherton overtaking 91 competitors in five minutes during a race went viral 5 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Palmares 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditFor 5 years from 2007 Atherton was part of the Animal Commencal race team along with brothers Dan Atherton and Gee Atherton In 2012 Atherton along with her brothers Dan Gee and Marc Beaumont signed with GT Bicycles In 2015 Atherton and her brothers signed with Trek Bicycle Corporation to race for Trek Atherton Racing 6 In June 2008 Atherton became the first British woman to win the Elite UCI Downhill World Championship defeating second placed Sabrina Jonnier by 11 99 seconds in the final 7 Atherton was involved in a collision with a pickup truck whilst on a time trial training ride with her brothers Dan and Gee in Santa Cruz California on 18 January 2009 8 She sustained a dislocated shoulder which after later needing a nerve graft 9 ruled her out of the 2009 racing season including the September World Championships in Canberra 10 In September 2012 Atherton took the final World Cup round on a diverse and testing Norwegian track and clinched the overall title despite missing the opening race of the season The Norwegian race was the final round of a seven round series in which Atherton claimed a win in 5 of the 6 events she raced In June 2016 Atherton became the first woman to win 10 consecutive rounds of the World Cup surpassing the record previously held by Anne Caroline Chausson 11 In September that same year she also achieved the unprecedented feat of winning every round in a World Cup season 12 Personal life EditAtherton keeps the rainbow jerseys she won for being world champion in a birdcage so that she can take them out touch them and remember those races 13 Atherton gave birth to a daughter on 4 August 2021 14 Palmares Edit2002 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH Youth 2004 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 2nd UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH Junior 2005 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 1st UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH Junior 1st European Mountain Bike Championships DH Junior 2006 1st European Mountain Bike Championships DH 1st Lisboa Downtown Championships 3rd Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 5 Balneario Camboriu Brazil dd 2nd British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 3rd UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 2007 1st UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH Round 5 Maribor Slovenia 1st Maxxis Cup DH Round 1 1st Sea Otter Classic 1st NPS DH Round 1 1st NPS DH Round 3 Moelfre 1st NPS DH Round 4 Caersws 1st Fat Face Night Race 1st Street Race Edinburgh 2nd UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 2nd NPS DH Round 5 Innerleithen 3rd DS Sea Otter Classic 2008 1st UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 1 Maribor Slovenia 1st Round 2 Vallnord Andorra 3rd Round 3 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 4 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 5 Bromont Canada 2nd Round 6 Canberra Australia 1st Round 7 Schladming Austria dd 1st Maxxis Cup DH Gouveia Portugal 1st Alpine Bikes Winter series DH Scotland 1st Canadian Open DH Whistler Canada 1st Monster Energy Garbanzo Downhill Whistler Canada 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 1 Maribor Slovenia 2nd Round 2 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 6 Windham United States dd 2011 2nd UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 3rd Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 2 Fort William Scotland 2nd Round 3 Leogang Austria 3rd Round 4 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 5 Windham United States 3rd Round 7 Val di Sole Italy dd 2012 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 2 Val di Sole Italy 2nd Round 3 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 4 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 5 Windham United States 1st Round 6 Val d Isere France 1st Round 7 Hafjell Norway dd 1st European Downhill Cup Round 1 Monte Tamaro Switzerland 1st European Downhill Cup Round 2 Leogang Austria 2nd British Downhill Series Round 1 Combe Sydenham England 2nd British Downhill Series Round 2 Fort William Scotland 2013 1st UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 1 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 2 Val di Sole Italy 1st Round 3 Vallnord Andorra 2nd Round 4 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 5 Hafjell Norway 2nd Round 6 Leogang Austria dd 2014 2nd UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 2nd Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 1 Pietermaritzburg South Africa 1st Round 2 Cairns Australia 2nd Round 4 Leogang Austria 2nd Round 5 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 2nd Round 6 Windham United States 1st Round 7 Meribel France dd 2015 1st UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 1 Lourdes France 1st Round 2 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 3 Leogang Austria 1st Round 4 Lenzerheide Switzerland 1st Round 5 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 6 Windham United States 1st Round 7 Val di Sole Italy dd 1st British Downhill Series Round 2 Fort William Scotland 2016 1st UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships DH 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 1 Lourdes France 1st Round 2 Cairns Australia 1st Round 3 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 4 Leogang Austria 1st Round 5 Lenzerheide Switzerland 1st Round 6 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 7 Vallnord Andorra dd 2017 1st British National Mountain Biking Championships DH UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 1st Round 1 Lourdes France 2nd Round 5 Lenzerheide Switzerland dd 2018 1st UCI Mountain Bike World Championships DH 1st Overall UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 1 Losinj Croatia 3rd Round 2 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 3 Leogang Austria 2nd Round 4 Val di Sole Italy 2nd Round 5 Vallnord Andorra 1st Round 6 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 1st Round 7 La Bresse France dd 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH 2nd Round 1 Maribor Slovenia 1st Round 2 Fort William Scotland 1st Round 4 Vallnord Andorra dd References Edit Rachel Atherton Interview British Cycling 16 April 2008 Archived from the original on 21 June 2008 Retrieved 2 June 2008 Atherton awarded Young Sportswoman Cycling News November 2005 Rachel wins BBC Midlands title BBC Shropshire 5 December 2005 Archived from the original on 12 November 2012 Retrieved 2 June 2008 Rachel Atherton wins BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year Pinkbike 8 December 2008 Red Bull Foxhunt with Rachel Atherton Red Bull October 2015 Atherton Racing Trek Pinkbike 11 November 2015 Gee and Rachel Atherton will remember the 21st of June 2008 for a long time Union Cycliste Internationale 21 June 2008 Rachel Atherton Car Crash Accident Pinkbike com 20 January 2009 Finally A Decision AnimalCommencal 1 May 2009 Archived from the original on 5 May 2009 World Championships World Champion Atherton Racing 12 August 2009 Archived from the original on 22 August 2009 Smurthwaite James 12 June 2016 Leogang World Cup 2016 Rachel Atherton takes record breaking tenth consecutive win dirtmountainbike com Retrieved 12 June 2016 Rachel Atherton wins women s race 2016 Vallnord World Cup dirtmountainbike com 3 September 2016 Retrieved 3 September 2016 Rachel Atherton British mountain biker goes for fifth downhill World Championship title BBC Sport 4 September 2018 Smurthwaite James 9 August 2021 Rachel Atherton Announces Birth of Baby Daughter Arna pinkbike External links EditRachel Atherton at Cycling Archives athertonracing co uk animalcommencal com Interview Rachel Atherton Douglas Cook Descent World 2004 An interview with the Athertons Steve Thomas Cycling News 6 September 2007 Silverfish Atherton Racing Profiles Rachel Atherton s bio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rachel Atherton amp oldid 1091861198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
