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86<br />
Dan<br />
Atherton<br />
Downhill MTB rider, 38, GBR.<br />
<strong>The</strong> eldest sibling is a downhill<br />
racing pioneer who never tires<br />
of digging challenging new trails.<br />
87<br />
88<br />
Gee<br />
Atherton<br />
Downhill MTB rider, 35, GBR.<br />
<strong>The</strong> two-time world champion<br />
and multiple World Cup winner<br />
has tried rally driving, too.<br />
Rachel<br />
Atherton<br />
Downhill MTB rider, 32, GBR.<br />
Winner of six World Cups and<br />
five world championships, Rachel<br />
is a downhill racing legend.<br />
Stronger<br />
together<br />
Clockwise from<br />
front: Rachel, Dan<br />
and Gee Atherton<br />
DAN WILTON RUTH MORGAN<br />
It’s no coincidence the sibling stars of<br />
downhill MTB live close by in Wales, belong<br />
to the same racing team and have launched<br />
a bike company together. It’s knowing<br />
they’ve got each other, says Rachel<br />
Atherton, that’s helped them reach new<br />
heights. “Growing up with siblings who do<br />
the same sport, I’ve never been alone in it.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s always been competitiveness, which<br />
has pushed us in the best way. When I was<br />
still a kid, Dan told me, ‘You could be the<br />
best in the world if you put in the time and<br />
effort.’ That’s given me my whole career,<br />
having their faith. Knowing that your family<br />
loves you no matter what allows you to<br />
really try; if you fail, you’re not defined by it.<br />
In this age of social media, having that real<br />
connection with people means a lot, maybe<br />
more than ever. Facebook and Instagram,<br />
that stuff’s not real. My family, my team, are<br />
the people who really see me. <strong>The</strong>y’re there<br />
whether I win or lose.”<br />
THE RED BULLETIN 87
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