Gee Atherton is one of the most progressive and spectacular mountain-bikers of all time. He has been twice World Champion in Downhill mountain-biking (most recently in 2014) and World Cup Series Overall Champion. Gee won his first Downhill World Cup in 2004 aged just nineteen and has won eight more World Cups and over 50 World Cup podiums since. He holds 6 National titles.

The thing that sets Gee apart is the sheer force with which he attacks every run. He specialises in lines that many riders view as technically impossible and his “balls-out” style has led to some spectacular crashes which set the internet alight time and time again. 2013 had fans all over the world on the edge of their seats when Gee led the Series right up to the final round where the legendary and much-missed Steve Smith seized the overall title in the last seconds of a scorching season. And we’ll never forget Gee’s winning run at Cairns 2014 when he went 4 seconds clear of the field in shoes borrowed from a spectator!That season ended on a high with Gee’s second World Championship on an “intense” track at Hafjell, Norway.

But recent years were super-frustrating. Gee’s dedication to training and preparation are legendary so he came into the 2015-17 seasons on absolutely top form but crashes took their toll.

At Lourdes 2015 Gee posted the fastest run in timed practice but an OTB in qualifying left him with a suspected fracture to his hand. Characteristically Gee rode Finals with his useless hand velcro’ed to the bars of his bike to finish 48th. It wasn’t enough, he was left chasing points all season finishing 6thoverall – outside of the top 5 for the first time in his career.

2016 brought a move to Trek Bikes, Gee proved he had the speed, qualifying first at Fort William in front of an ecstatic home crowd but a Finals crash damaged his shoulder badly leaving him to power through the remainder of the season on adrenaline, painkillers and sheer grit. With his shoulder “total agony” Gee bowed out of the World Champs team, making way for Bernard Kerr to watch from the sidelines for the first time in over a decade. But a week later he rode to 4th place at Red Bull Hardline, big brother Dan’s creation and probably the hardest downhill racetrack in the world.

2017 started with a top ten at Lourdes but soon saw more trials at Fort William, Gee’s first race on a 29er at the British Downhill Series left him with a dislocated hip which forced him to sit out two rounds of the World Cup for the first time ever in his career. Medics predicted the end of Gee’ season but they had reckoned without his determination to compete and just 7 weeks later he was back on the World Cup circuit, culminating in a top 20 at this year’s World Championships.

The middle Atherton is a popular ambassador for the sport. His daring and skill earned him two silver medals at Red Bull Rampage and his sense of fun, mixed with aggression in the chase makes the Red Bull Fox Hunt a huge draw. As well as being “One of the World’s fastest racers”Pinkbike 2016 Gee is the team pin-up; he’s been a Cosmo centrefold and featured in the 2015 Sport Uncovered Series. When he’s not on his bike he’ll be driving his rally car.

Gee’ says that for the first time he can remember he’s going into a winter of training without the need for operations or rehab, he’s looking forward to riding at brother Dan’s Dyfi Bike park and working with new team-mate Charlie Hatton.

Career Highlights