Atherton racing double celebrations

Rachel Atherton, 30. based in Llanrhaeadr on the Oswestry/mid Wales border, clinched her fifth downhill world championship at the weekend at the event in Switzerland.

It is the latest triumph in year's of success, not just for her but her two other brothers, Dan and Gee.

Now the Atherton stable of riders can also lay claim to the 2018 junior world champion, Kade Edwards.

The talented 18-year-old joined the Atherton Academy, moved to Llanfyllin and now rides for the Atherton's racing group, Trek Factory Racing Downhill team.

He said taking the junior title was was unbelievable.

"I've been on bikes since the age of two. It's mental that I am now doing what I love for a living," he said.

"I have really settled here, and there are some really good mountain bike venues in Wales."

Despite winning title after title, Rachel says this weekend's championship meant more than most.

"It's been a hard year competing against fellow Brit, Tahnee Seagrave, who also lives in Llanfyllin, so to take such a winning margin in front of family and friends was incredible. There has been a lot of drama this year - such as coming out of the start gates at the World Cup in Scotland and my chain snapping. I decided I had to complete the course, despite not being able to peddle. So it has been a year of crazy emotions."

"You have to commit 200 per cent to downhill racing. I stood at the top of the course at the weekend, knowing that I had about three minutes in which I could win, or by going out hard, I could crash and seriously injure myself. I decided that I had to go for the win and if I crashed doing so then so be it.

"It is like preparing for battle and takes everything you have got, physically and mentally."

Rachel says she can not remember a time when she did not ride a bike.

"I grew up riding bikes, following in the footsteps of my older brothers. My bike has now become an extension of me, showing just how important it is to encourage kids to ride so that it becomes second nature. We don't want to put any pressure on the young people that ride with us, we want it to be fun, that's why we have an academy."

Her only disappointment was that brother, Gee, did not make it into the GB team.

"He was riding with a broken hand this year and it hindered his performance, even thought he ended up on the podium in his last two races. But he came out to Switzerland and was working as a commentator. So It was great to have my big brother out them helping me by talking me through the best lines on the course."

"Dad was there too and my boyfriend and the rest of the team, it was so emotional, really special."

Now Rachel is looking forward to the local event Foxhunt 2018 that Atherton Racing organises alongside Red Bull.

"It will be held on September 29 near Machynlleth. It is basically a reverse fox hunt, a mass start with 200 women starting on top of a mountain. I leave it a few seconds and them I have to chase them down and try to pass as many as a can. There are still a few tickets left and anyone can come along and enter. It is a great way to get women into sport as it is less intimidating with a mass start."

"Downhill biking is addictive. I am now the oldest woman on the circuit but I have not intention of stopping."