Author: Alan Milway

 

Following a successful World Cup Season, the final race of the season was the World Championships, held in Hafjell, Norway.

With athletes in Junior men, Elite women, and Elite Men categories all were in the hunt for medals.

This event transcends mountain biking, as mainstream media can appreciate what the term ‘World Champion’ means and athletes are all extra motivated for this race. I was too! Throughout the week I was spending a great deal of time looking at lines and filming sections. This proved to be somewhat controversial and I was surprised at the bad mouthing I received for this – for almost ‘taking it too seriously’. Obviously this was hardly a deterrent and the hard work and analysis ultimately proved worthwhile.

Jnr Men:

Taylor Vernon and Martin Maes both have won World Cup events this season and were certainly favoured for podium positions. However 1 run can be cruel and Taylor crashed, whilst Martin punctured. Very disappointing and frustrating for riders and teams alike – but that is racing.

Elite Women: 

Manon Carpenter has had a stellar year, winning the World Cup series. Rachel Atherton has shown devastating skill and speed throughout the year but has been severely hampered by illness which has left her short of energy and frustrated at the limitations it has brought. Both were clearly fastest in practice and Rachel looked more comfortable in the technical sections, carrying very good speed. Come race runs Manon set a blistering time to put her in the hot seat, with only Rachel to come. As Rachel came on to screen you could see the run was not what she was looking for, and there were mistakes. Crossing the line the time was so close -0.08sec in favour of Manon. New World Champion.

 

Elite Men:

A race that showed this really is all or nothing for these men. Many mistakes throughout and crashes from some of the main challengers, including Greg Minnaar, Danny Hart and Sam Hill. Gee was then on track and was riding fast, but not mistake free. He looked ragged and saved a close crash in the technical woods. He blasted on to the hot seat and held this to the last man. Josh Bryceland is current world Cup champion and has had a great year, riding high on confidence and skill. He was up at the split time but then launched far too far on the last jump to crash land and limp across the line just behind Gee’s time. Gee Atherton World Champion again. Other results were also impressive with Matt Simmonds 9th, Sam Dale 11th, and Andrew Neethling 21st.

The season has been one of the most exciting for years, with multiple winners and such close racing. The preparation that started in darkest December turned to racing and sustaining health and form, and now takes a back seat for a little while to recover and refresh, before all eyes are on World Cup 1, 2015.

It was great to work with Men’s Fitness magazine to put together an article on the training Gee Atherton does in preparation for World Cup downhill racing.

The article looks at a selection of exercises that are not the usual ‘ foundation’ movements, but some that we use to be more specific with training for the demands of the discipline.

in the current, September issue of Men’s Fitness out now!

British Cycling has just announced its team for the 2014 World Champs in Hafjell, Norway.  very proud to say 6 riders I coach have been selected. Alongside defending World Champion Rachel Atherton are Madison/Saracen’s Manon Carpenter. She is having a stunning season so far and currently leads the World Cup series.

In the men’s squad, both Madison riders make the team, Matt Simmonds and Sam dale, and are joined by Gee Atherton.

Junior hot shot Taylor Vernon is selected for his first World Champs, so it is exciting for all!

see the full squad here:

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20140801-gb-cyclingteam-news-British-Cycling-announces-downhill-squad-for-UCI-Mountain–Bike-World-Championships-0

 

2 World Cups

3 Winners

2 Team overall wins

1 Physical Prep Coach

It has been a great start to the World Cup season and these results are testament to the hard work put in by the riders during the winter. It is during these times, away from any attention or compliment by media, where the gains are made and it is only when the racing starts does one begin to see the rewards.

South Africa was the first World Cup stop, and this brings with it many challenges: the distance from home and the fact it is a ‘fly away’ race means no big trucks, no air con, no big workshop, no mod-cons…It also means we are going to have to deal with heat!

 

 

Managing this heat was a real challenge and implementing strategies pre and post exercise to cool the riders was important. There are many physiological benefits to this, but also perception of effort is reduced, which in this game is also very relevant with repeated runs and pushing to the very edge of your effort.

 

 

For the Athertons it was a tough race – Rachel was very ill in the lead up to the race, Tay was returning from his broken back and this was his first World Cup race back, and Gee was stuggling with a new bike that he hadn’t quite settled with yet.

I was very proud of Tay – he was mature, took adivce and rode smoothly to qualify 3rd, and finish 7th. We wanted him to get down and come away wanting more…and this certainly was the case!

Rach was a trooper – she watched helmet cam footage, rested, went to the Dr, and then dug deep in race runs to mount a challenge. 2nd on the day was amazing effort and shows her clear level of talent, skill and fitness.

Gee had a really difficult race- they made some big changes to the bike, and although it sounds like a Moto GP excuse, he really couldnt get on with the bike. 10th at all splits showed this, and although 10th is an amazing result for 99% of the racing population, Gee expects more. For him to apologise when he got back to the pits was humbling, the guy gives it everything and knows everyone around him does too. Everyone left wanting to right these wrongs…

 

 

On the flip side the Madison guys had a storming start to the season. Manon hadn’t got to show her potential last year at World champs (due to crashing) so she relished this opportunity and grabbed the win after qualifying fastest. A real boost to her confidence and testament to her efforts and drive to win.

 

 

Sam has always had speed and strength, but putting it down during a run hasn’t been easy. he came in to this season with a new team mate and a clear drive to show he wants to be top dog – and laid down a storming run to get his best ever World Cup result with 7th place!

Matt was also suffering somewhat coming in to the race, and surely felt pressure having come 5th here last year. He has the speed and fitness, but the tank was empty after the illness – he still fought hard for 13th, disappointment d frustration were clear.

 

 

Madison took the team overall win too which was an amazing achievement for this young team.

Cairns was another challenge with the sheer distance of travel and weather – hot, wet and humid! Warm and wet isn’t a great combination for keeping cool, and getting covered in mud every run made it difficult I am sure. The mechanics must have been working flat out 24/7!

 

 

For the Athertons it was a very different weekend!

Rachel was feeling better and could show her form, taking a convincing win here, with an 11sec gap over Manon.

Tay was again very mature and impressive – qualifying high and finishing 4th after a crash which has left him angry at himself and hungry for Fort William!

Gee must have been thinking about bike set up non stop since SA and has turned a corner with it for sure, putting flat pedals on for the mud, he looked so strong and in control all the way down – winning by 4secs. A real relief for the team that bike and athlete are in the form expected!!

 

 

Madison had another great weekend, Manon couldnt challenge Rach here, especially with a crash, but took 14 secs out of 3rd place, showing these two are head and shoulder above the rest at the moment.

Sam had another blinder – the camera showed mud all down his side, but still 8th fastest and the fastest split on the bottom of the track on the long flat pedal – go on my son!

 

 

Matt had a disappointing day for him finishing 19th. Still firmly in the points and plenty of motivation as he returns to UK.

 

 

The next World Cup in at Fort William in June. Back to work now, expectation is high!

The Redbulletin have recently published an article following my training with Gee and Rach.

Check out the online version here:

http://www.redbull.com/uk/en/bike/stories/1331640904335/gee-rachel-atherton-training-red-bulletin

The first few months of this year have been 100% geared towards the racing season ahead. As is the nature of the UK weather, to maximise training quality and quantity we head abroad to train. January was to the Canary Islands, and then I have made two more trips to Spain with Atherton Racing and Madison Saracen team.

There have been a number of articles and blogs from the teams and athletes about these camps – check them out:

Atherton Racing Fuerteventura Training Camp:

http://athertonracing.co.uk/2014/02/11/training-camp-1-fuerteventura-2/

Madison Blogs from Spain:

Matt Simmonds: http://www.saracen.co.uk/blog/21/03/2014/matt-simmonds-spanish-training-camp

Sam Dale: http://www.saracen.co.uk/blog/20/03/2014/sam-dale-spanish-training-camp

Manon Carpenter: http://www.saracen.co.uk/blog/18/03/2014/manon-carpenter-spanish-training-camp

Atherton Racing Malaga DH: http://athertonracing.co.uk/2014/03/07/malaga-training-camp-part-1-downhill-lowdown/

Atherton Racing Enduro: http://athertonracing.co.uk/2014/03/17/malaga-training-camp-part-2-enduro-team/

 

The UCI have released the Team World Rankings ahead of the 2014 season.

It is fantastic to say that the two teams I coach – GT and Madison, are ranked Number 1, and Number 3 respectively.

A credit to the riders and team sets up, and very proud to work with such athletes.

Rule Britannia!

Although racing doesn’t start for another couple of months, the hard work has very much begun. In the period before Christmas the work is not ‘exciting’ or flashy, it is just graft…weights being lifted, bicycles being pedalled. As we entered 2014, the foundations were still being laid for the season ahead, but to get some better weather we often head to warmer climes.

January’s Atherton team camp was in the Canary Islands and allowed us to get some good, uninterrupted training in – away from distraction, and without the need for 2 sets of bib tights…

Here are some photos from the trip:

 

The task of preparing for this season started way back in December, and now it has all come to a conclusion- the curtain has now been drawn on the 2013 Do

wnhill MTB season.

It has been quite a journey for myself and the athletes I work with; a seemingly endless winter, a late start to the World Cup season, and then the steady momentum of racing before it all suddenly drew to a close in Austria.

Working with a new team was going to bring excitement and ch

allenges, and this was certainly true with Atherton Racing. A hugely professional set up with high expectations, the team gave me the opportunity to take on the task of preparing the riders, guiding the off season training and organising the training camps. It also meant a big change for them as I wanted to change quite a few things and I was grateful to have their trust and backing in this – if there is one thing you need as a coach it is the trust from the athletes to do your job and make the decisions you feel right.

There were many highlights to this year with the team, and the results showed the hard work and dedication:

Gee Atherton: National Champion, multiple British National Series wins, 2 x World Cup winner, 2nd place World Cup Series overall.

Rachel Atherton: National Champion, multiple British National Series wins, World Champion, World Cup Series champion.

Taylor Vernon: Junior British National Series Champion. Taylor had a season ending back injury and we are working hard for him to return to full competition in 2014.

Madison/ Saracen downhill team.

This was my second year working with this team and I enjoyed continuing my work with Elite female rider Manon Carpenter, Elite male Harry Molloy and Junior Phil Atwill. Joining the team was Elite Sam Dale.

Among the stand out results were:

Manon Carpenter: 2nd place Fort William World Cup, 2nd Place Mont St Anne World Cup,2nd Place Andorra World Cup, 2nd Place Hafjell World Cup, 3rd Place Leogang World Cup, 3rd place Overall World Cup standings.

Phil Atwill: 2nd Place Val di Sole Junior World Cup

Sam Dale: 5th place National Champs, 2nd Place National round Bringewood

I also continued my work with Andrew Neethling, who landed a great 3rd place in Hafjell World Cup.

 

 

 

Having been shortlisted for this award it was very flattering to win, and be presented with the award at the dinner held at Edgbaston cricket ground.

The awards ceremony brought together athletes, coaches and volunteers from across the region and it was great to be a part of. There were numerous awards handed out with the headline Sportsman of the Year going to Ian Bell, and Sportswomen of the Year going to triathlete Jodie Stimpson, fresh from her victory in Hyde Park just days before.