http://athertonracing.co.uk/team/team-news/

There’s a surprise.

do you think marc will have to marry rachel now?

Old news this one.

Old news this one.

offically announced today…..

offically announced today…..

The UCI let the cat out the bag last month

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/UCI-Release-List-of-2012-Elite-Teams-MS-Mondraker-Listed,402

New news for me anyway 🙂

Will they be in Fox kit? – No longer with Animal, Beaumont is/was sponsored by them last year and the head on his shirt is the only clear logo in those shots – am i reading too much into it? Does anyone really care? 😆

GT better bikes then? Cos I remember Atherton(s) wanted to race on the previous years Commencal (as they preferred the way it/they rode?) and Commencal refused?

I feel a bit sorry for them in terms of the new bike. The fury has a face only a mother could love 😆

On the plus side I’d imagine they will have a lot more support.

GT are a bit off my radar these days. I hope this brings them back into the fore a bit in the UK and they start releasing bikes I actually fancy.

Good luck to them all. Putting Dan in the Enduro style DH races makes a lot of sense. Looking forward to following them this year.

Harsh as it seems, I get the feeling with Dan that he is just not quite good enough at the top level. He has tried to concentrate on DH, Dual and BMX in the last few years and none have really worked so I am hoping that Enduro does.

I have heard that he is the brains behind the Atherton “brand” and does all of the marketing and negotiations so I suspect we will see him in a team management role in the next few years.

best quote so far from Pinkbike-

I’d definitely knock the hips out of Rachael 🙂

I get the feeling with Dan that he is just not quite good enough at the top level. He has tried to concentrate on DH, Dual and BMX in the last few years and none have really worked so I am hoping that Enduro does.

He’s never concentrated on one discipline in a season though (last year doesn’t really count as he was coming back from a broken neck!) I think he’s just spread himself too thin in the past.

If she asks me nicely, Rachel could find her luck’s in.

Rachel looks like your mates little sister to me. Great girl but she doesn’t do much for me. Saying that, neither do Dan or Gee.

Rachel is a rotter, that is just a very good photo.

I think she has a certain charm….. 😳

In fact, I don’t think she’d need to ask nicely at all….!!!

There’s a video interview on the Dirt story about this in which Dan explains he wasn’t comfortable riding at the speeds of the top guys in WC DH now.

I think he did amazingly well to come back from a broken neck and place 40th-odd in a couple of races considering the depth of talent in the current DH scene.

And mustard – I can kind of get excited about what bikes they ride, but not which kit sponsors they have I’m afraid!

It must be hard, being an Atherton whose name isn’t Gee. Dan’ll never be the fastest, and Rachel’ll never be the best looking.

Rachel’s a fine looking girl.
In fact, no alcohol would be required whatsoever 😀

I dunno wrecker, I haven’t seen you but she might need a few.

(Nothing wrong with having a boycrush Northwind)

He does have nice hair. Ah but then Aaron Gwin has lovely eyes. I’m dragged in all different ways.

<edit- phew, saved, Darcy Turenne has nice hair AND lovely eyes. And absolutely no penises. Close one though>

I dunno wrecker, I haven’t seen you but she might need a few

I would be aiming to ensure she had more than a few 😈

Now we’re talking Northwind….

…we’re going off on a different track to the OP, but Darcy Turenne is hot stuff…..definitely no penises, and certainly a great set of child bearing hips….

😀

Imagine browsing through the cycle forums and coming across your looks rather than your ability being discussed negatively.

I must say Rachel looks good in that photo 😆

Halfords build GT-branded bikes, no?

Surely the Athertons now ride for Halfords?!

Just think of the fallout when they win races on £89 full sussers….

Also in the Dirt video, it made me smile how the team manager said they had several different offers and they tried riding a few different bikes… and GT came up with the best package.

Rachel is a rotter, that is just a very good photo.

She aint my cup of tea either but is there any need for that ?

Imagine browsing through the cycle forums and coming across your looks rather than your ability being discussed negatively.

Wouldnt be so bad when you found out that you give the bestest person on here the horn.

I was about to type something inappropriate, but then remembered it is STW.

Rachel is cute, but no Niki Gudex.

hora – Member

Imagine browsing through the cycle forums and coming across your looks rather than your ability being discussed negatively.

Think how poor Dan feels, he gets both 🙁

enfht – Member

Halfords build GT-branded bikes, no?

Surely the Athertons now ride for Halfords?!

iirc Gee was on the halfords team when he first started out, so not quite as preposterous as you exclaim!

i’d say they’re all past their best in terms of WC DH. last year there was so many young guys with top fitness and experience that usually comes later down the road

this’ll be one of those big money moves

i predict rachel will be the highest placed in 2012, 3rd, and gee won’t make better than fourth (end of season results)

enfht – Member

Halfords build GT-branded bikes, no?

Halfords and GT split a while back. Which is why you practically never see any new GTs these days.

Gee past his best? Listen I’m not a massive Gee Atherton fan but you must be taking the p$as? Last season Gwinn dominated no doubt but the season before gee had to match it with one of the most consistent riders if all time in Greg minnar. He has (by his own standards no doubt also) a season off the boil and suddenly he’s pasts his best?

🙄

Gee also suffered loads of mechanicals last year – he bust a wheel in one run that I watched and the tyre came off in another.

He might struggle to match Gwin, but after that he’s right up there.

She aint my cup of tea either but is there any need for that ?

I’m sorry petal, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

My goodness the Fury is an ugly bike 😯

Gee’s still fairly young, Dan’s broken neck might have had something to do with his performances last year, but he was on the podium several times despite that. I reckon Gwin will win again this year, Danny Hart 2nd, Gee 3rd. Rachel 2nd.