Who has worked the hardest, raced the fastest, championed the most or just helped enable more of us to get out and ride. Who has inspired you the most in the last 12 months?
Harriet Harnden
Harriet ‘Hattie’ Harden is seemingly good at whatever type of riding she does, leaving her to choose which races to do on the basis of which brings her most joy rather than which fits some narrow singular goal. It’s a fresh approach to racing that seems to be working well for her: British National U23 XC Champion, two EWS wins at Elite level, and British National Champion in cyclocross at Elite level are just some of the highlights from 2022. She’s outspoken about the importance of taking a healthy perspective to racing and training. If this is what the future of racing looks like, it should be a lot more fun.
Gee Atherton
Gee Atherton has probably spent more of the past year in the gym than on a bike, but his attitude to recovery and rehabilitation has inspired many. After a terrible crash in 2021, the list of injuries had many wondering if he’d get back to riding at a competitive level, or if he’d perhaps shift his focus to other areas of the Atherton empire. Videos charting his injuries and recovery lay bare the level of pain and effort he had to endure to get back on the bike. We gritted our teeth watching them, and then Gee frayed our nerves by returning to racing in spectacular style, at Red Bull Hardline. Pure grit.
Rob Warner
The man that’s provided the soundtrack to the Downhill World Cup for longer than some would like to remember shouted his last superlative this season. He’ll still be working with Red Bull, but as the World Cup goes to Discovery without him, many are left wondering who can fill his shoes. Honing his craft over the years, he’s perhaps becoming a little more filtered and refined in modern times. While we’re sure we’ll be hearing from him again, it’s the end of an era and his memorable similes and metaphors will certainly be missed by many.
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We’re delighted to be working with Kendal Mountain Festival to bring you the big reveal of the winners of the Singletrack Reader Awards at KMF’s famous Bike Night. If you can’t get along for the evening, it’ll be available on the Kendal Mountain Player, so no one misses out!
