Rachel Atherton Confirms: She Will Race Leogang

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As many of us will have been hoping, after her amazing come back ride at the weekend, Rachel Atherton will be lining up at the start line in Leogang. If she wins again, she’ll equal Anne Caro Chausson’s record of most Downhill World Cups ever.

Credit: Nathan Hughes

And let’s just take the chance to say again: last weekend’s result was nothing short of outstanding. We got quite excited over that here at STW Towers, so tune in to our podcast to hear all about why we think it was so important.

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Here’s the official press release from the Continental Atherton team…

Rachel Atherton will defend her Leader’s jersey at Leogang, 2023 Downhill World Cup Round 2

“The World’s fastest Mum” who took her 40th World Cup at Round1 Lenzerheide will take to the track again next weekend at Leogang. 

Credit: Nathan Hughes

Rachel admits that her victory still hasn’t sunk in saying that the last 72 hours have been completely surreal.

Initial plans were that she would spend a couple of days in Lenzerheide on a family holiday before returning home to Wales to train and regroup in order to maximises her fitness for World Champs at Fort William this August but the temptation to race again proved too strong! 

Credit: Nathan Hughes

Rachel acknowledges that she isn’t yet racing on top form and that two weekends back to back racing will be tough. She said “I don’t want to be stupid and take risks, racing back to back is hard enough when you’re fully fit and strong and I don’t want to get hurt. I have Arna to think about” 

Credit: Nathan Hughes

But spending time with the Continental Atherton race team and on board the bike that she co-designed with her two brothers is proving too much fun to resist. 

I’m loving my time with the team, being a racer again, riding the AM.200.M, showing the world just how great this bike rides and seeing Andi and Charlie doing so well– we talked about it all day Sunday, weighing up the pros and cons, trying to decide WHY I’m doing this. Part of me wants to stop now, no more racing, my last race a win, that was always the dream, but I’m here I don’t want to stop… and my mum has agreed to stay with us and look after Aran for another week so it is decided… I will go and race at Leogang and just see what happens. 

A small part of me wishes I didn’t win, because I don’t want any more pressure, I don’t want people to expect me to win or to go well again, I just want to race and ride and be there! 

Credit: Nathan Hughes

Rachel’s 40th World Cup win means that she is within one victory of equalling Anne Caro Chausson’s record for the most Downhill Wins ever…

Credit: Nathan Hughes

While you’re here…

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/issue-142-petes-pros-rachel-atherton/
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lenzerheide-dh-world-cup-how-was-it-for-you/

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I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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Home › Forums › Rachel Atherton Confirms: She Will Race Leogang

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Viewing 6 posts - 41 through 46 (of 46 total)
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  • Rachel Atherton Confirms: She Will Race Leogang
  • nickc
    Full Member

     It’s a longer track, which may be bad news if Atherton was struggling with fitness.

    Camille won last year by nailling the bottom half of the course, by 12 secs IIRC, that’s some deficit to make up if your not on top form.

    Posted 1 year ago
    1
    tomparkin
    Full Member

    Good point @nickc but! on the other hand to nail the bottom half you have to not stack it in the woods because you’re a bit nervy about the recent triumphant return of one of the winningest DH racers of all time.

    I do think it’s a tall order to be honest but OTOH I wouldn’t bet against it and that is going to make it an exciting race for me.

    Posted 1 year ago
    1
    nickc
    Full Member

    Yep, I don’t think I’d bet against Rachel TBH regardless of what she said last weekend!

    Posted 1 year ago
    thegeneralist
    Free Member

    Any interview links?

    Posted 1 year ago
    Speeder
    Full Member

    Having watched a few of the Bernie Kerr videos she has featured on riding Dyfi over the last few months, I’m not remotely surprised she came back and schooled the field. Especially on a bikepark style course.

    Posted 1 year ago
    GolfChick
    Free Member

    I didn’t watch the race (it doesnt inspire me to ride and it all gets a bit too repetitve for me) but was told about Rach’s victory and I’ve gotta say I was surprised, to take such a big gap/motherhood/injuries and come back and win doesn’t seem to paint the rest of the field in a good light. I think we’ve all heard the anecdote before that you need to ride with better riders in order for your own riding to improve so maybe her return will signal the others to push harder to try to compete. People say to me all the time ‘oh you should race’ but at the end of the day when you may be the only competitor at a race is there really any point? As has been said before you only need to complete the course as a woman in order to generally win, I’ve got tonnes of QOMs but there’s far less women completing the segments so is it really anything to write home about?

    I’m not sure what the solution is to getting more women into racing but I dont think the approach should be that just because you’re a woman you owe it to your ‘species’ to race which is very much the sentiment I get as a female rider when people talk to me about the fact I should race. Similarly it annoys me when I meet up with women for a ride who tell me they race and by the end of the ride I’m wondering why, just because your female?!

    Posted 1 year ago
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