Athertons and Marc Beaumont sign up to GT Bicycles for 2012: Exclusive Video
Yes, so the ‘worst kept secret in mountainbike history’ is here, it is official, the Athertons and Marc Beaumont will be riding for GT Bicycles.
Athertons and Marc Beaumont sign up to GT Bicycles for 2012: Exclusive Video
So yes, we have all been waiting for the official press release, well here it is: World Cup stars Gee, Dan and Rachel Atherton will all be racing on GT Bicycles for the next three years, but here’s the twist, fellow British rider Marc Beaumont will be joining them too. The Atherton family have always been a tight-knit unit, so the addition of another ‘family member’ is interesting. Marc doesn’t live too far away from Atherton HQ and has of course known the family for years, and with him already being on GT it must have seen to be a logical step. So the very nature of ‘Atherton Racing’ is maturing and changing (not sure what is happening with Mick Hannah at the moment).
So after five years with Commencal bikes they join up with the mighty GT. GT have a huge history in cycling, from the early days of their all-conquering BMX teams to their all-powerfull mountainbike teams…I mean who hasn’t ridden for them? Mike King, Nico, Peaty, Lopes, Barel, Kintner…the list is almost endless. But this is definitely a new chapter in GT’s history. Beaumont and Hannah have done great things for the company (who can forget Beaumont’s Val di Sole victory in 2010), but bringing the Atherton’s on board means that they mean some serious business.
(above) Rachel, Dan, Gee, team manager Dan Brown and Marc hanging out at Atherton Racing HQ, checking out their new ride.
The other sponsor change is in clothing, in come One Industries. Not known to have had a huge amount to do with mountainbiking in the past, this all looks set to change. This move can only be seen as positive.
So racing…Gee, Marc and Rachel on the full World Cup circuit with Dan doing Enduro, we’ll have to wait for the complete race schedule. That is a fair old line up, surely the strongest out there? We’ll just have to wait and see…
Here’s that Press Release:
PRESS RELEASE
GT Bicycles and Atherton Racing Join Forces
Bethel, CT – January 10, 2012 – GT Bicycles is proud to announce its partnership with Atherton Racing. Beginning in 2012, the mountain bike race team of Dan, Gee, and Rachel Atherton, will join non-family GT rider Marc Beaumont and form the new team GT Factory Racing.
“Atherton Racing is one of the most progressive teams in the history of mountain biking, and is known for taking the sport to the next level,” said Mark Peterman, Global General Manager GT Bicycles. “We’re excited about the partnership because it both continues GT’s legacy as the brand that helps progressive riders push their limits, and because of the opportunities it presents to develop new products.”
Over the past five years, Atherton Racing has seen over 50 professional victories and multiple World titles. For the first time, the Atherton team will also include a non-family member with GT rider Marc Beaumont. As a consistent World Cup downhill rider with podiums in some of the world’s greatest Enduro races, Beaumont will compliment Gee on the UCI DH circuit, and Dan on the Euduro circuit, as his focus has shifted towards Enduro-style events. The team will be riding the GT Fury, Sanction, and Force Carbon and Alloy.
In addition to racing, the team will provide important product testing feedback and work hand-in-hand with GT on future product advancements and the next evolution of GT mountain bikes.
“The new relationship that’s formed between Atherton Racing and GT has opened up so many opportunities for everyone involved, I’m stoked to be going into the next few years of racing being bolstered by a company with such a passion for the sport, and with a company that’s drive for the top step of the podium, matches that of my own,” said Gee Atherton.
For more information on the GT Bicycles and Atherton Racing partnership, please visit gtbikes.com and athertonracing.co.uk and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GTBicycles.
can’t decide if I feel sorry for Marc or not…..
I see what you mean, but the Athertons are good friends with Marc so it should be a good working partnership
maybe the should all change they’re names to the ather-mont’s – No I think they’ll be fine somehow!! Change will be good and hopefully it’ll bring out the best in all four of them as there will be certainly, certainly within the atherton’s , a different type of ‘rivalry’ if you like – awesome news
not a very well kept secret as you say, but cool non the less. Theres a lot of racers in DH with long histories with a specific team or brand trying new rides this year, could be another interesting season at the top.
hope the Athertons like their new ride, and good luck to em. Really looking forward to seeing dan doing enduro too. Its going to be good to see all the big teams getting into the enduro trip as well as DH. =)
This is f’d up, i just opened Dirt @ work with the mindset of going on the forums to try to find an update on the Atherton’s if there was no display, and boom – there it is. About bloody time they let this out – massive secret wasn’t it. New bike anytime soon then? Beaumont looks like he has just had his pocket money taken on the large picture though WTF lol.
Excellent news!! Can’t wait to see this line up racing – serious competition.
Is it wrong to still associate Marc with Mini Me jokes?
.
Very pleased GT have kept him on and put him in the A team with the big new signings, was worried they were going to shove him into some separate entry and pretend not to notice anymore.
.
Here’s to a an injury free and trophy heavy 2012!
He looks very upset in his picture
Liking the new paintjob. But GT will always be blue and yellow for me.
http://shrani.si/f/3E/cy/AorzkMw/peat.jpg
gee n’ rach are wearing One Industries stuff, is that official?
Awkward…
I don’t know who was operating that camera, but can you please take them out in the street and shoot them, now.
Nice pictures!
I think they must of missed the review where Jonsey say the bike it not so good
what a load of bollox
Doesn’t Marc look short in the group pictures?
Looks like a strong team this year though.
It’s got to be one of the few sports where people of such varying sizes and builds compete equally at Pro levels
@Tom – you mean Brosnan short or shorter? Low center ftw!
Maybe Marc is tappin rach :p new addition to the atherton crew……
@Leon I guess that will be the review that also talks to Marc B about the changes he has made to his production bike
i feel for dan, you can tell the neck injury has affected him
Is Moelfre really that difficult to pronounce?
@melons Back – one of close friends pretty much mirrored Dan’s injury – breaking his c2 and 3 in his neck almost the same time. His recovery and subsequent conditioning back into racing has again pretty much mirrored Dan’s recover ( bar the redbull sponsored recovery programme in USA) but yeah I can see it in Dan’s riding aswell as my bud’s, there is just that Nth degree where even when he’s pinning it, that complete ‘balls to the wall fuck it’ attitude of wanting to just stampede the opposition is always pinned back by the fact that he was close to being killed. ( c2 and c3 vert’s house the nerves that control the automatic functions including breathing and heartbeat) so a neck break like that is so much more than paralysis if the nerve’s are compromised…time is a great healer tho… and he’s putting in impressive performances.
Got this news on Rocky Roads.
obviously early days there but that didnt feel a comfortable interview at all, especially rach bangin on about bringing GTs glory days back…..might rub mark the wrong way there………
addicto – couldent agree more. big thing to go through. dan and your friend are riding still though and thats an amazing thing. someone neg propped my comment.. heartless oaf
Word has it they gave Mick his walking papers.
“We inherited Marc” says it all… Feel sorry for the guy really. He went from being GT’s number 1 rider to an inheritance on a tight knit family unit.
Ya, walking all the way to Huchinson/Morewood with his sister
christ, it looks like an NSPCC ad campaign
hmm still of fox and shimano, wonder who will be riding sram then?
giant,syndicate,devinci world racing on the top of head will run sram
If i was mark I would be stoked to have more people in the uk on my team, imagine he is. I think there has been so much hype about this, the interview was always going to be a bit of an anti climax.
Good luck to em all.
should have used 2012 as a time to break up the band.
at this point in their careers, it would have made the most sense to have each atherton riding for a team and brand that suites them best.
this package deal thing is so 2006.
good luck.
Dam Rachel Is sexy
I really hope Marc ends up having a killer season this year. He went from being one of the top dogs on his team to the underdog on this team. It would be awesome if he came out swinging this year and got Gee to check his ego a little bit…
brownie you sly fox…….’we just felt gt offered the best package’ more like gt offered the most amount of cash…….MOOOONNNNNEEEEEYYYYYY$$$$$$£££££££££€€€€€€€€€
Will they still have Stevie as the spanner wangler? He was always the best value on the Atherton project…
Although i do agree with Stacy Kohut about breaking the family up, maybe having Marc to push Gee on is a master stroke. Let’s be blunt about this while Dan is a great rider he’s not a top 10 WC racer and even without his injury he wouldn’t be. Should be great for Marc having team mates around him a bit more regularly and i would imagine having someone motivated on the team this year alongside him will also push him on too, good deal all round i’d say. Also does this mean Dan Brown is the new GT factory team manager or is he just Dan, Gee and Rach’s personal managers?
whos the gay?
why are the athertons so boring to listen to….i guess they are too cool
agree with Dave…MB and Gee on DH at >top 5 capable speed should be a big push for them both…& not just on race day.
big hope for Dan to find his new niche in top Euro enduro….cos it will be balls to the wall for results there and Affy has a full set for sure.
looking forward to supporting a new and hopefully prosperous GT team going forward…now we should see if the frame is really any good…or is there a new mould in the making….
So is dan focusing on enduro on his own then?
Wonder if this means Beaumont will not bother supporting Nationals like the Athertons now.
MICK HANNAH WHERE ARE YOU
Whilst I’m commenting!! Nice little interview Jonesy! Shame Dan wants to be in his comfort zone but he came 2nd?? wasn’t it? at an enduro race last year? I’m sure he’ll go on to be very successful this year with Enduro!
syndicate is on fox shimano
Stoked to see the team work together, but this just seemed so awkward! Marc clearly isn’t that keen on the idea and the way they said ‘inherited’ which was pointed out earlier. But also Dan has suffered badly from his accident. So for some reason I cant decide how things are going to work for them team. Maybe the competition between Gee and Marc could be good but if they all find it hard then who knows!! rant over.
Who filmed this Interview, Stevie Wonder?
@ james SORRY? but where did you get the syndicate are on fox ?
GT Force was crap three years ago,
Hopefully they sorted that
Is Marc wearing more mascara than Rachel?
so they ditched animal for one industries too?
Are they the new Shimano Saint brakes on that GT?
This is getting a bit too corporate like F1 motor racing – buying and dumping riders. GT ditched Lopes and Kintner a few years ago without norice. Now Sic Mik is gone – probably because he didn’t get great results in 2011 . The Athertons have no doubt asked for for quite a tidy sum of money. They better perform or they’ll probly get the shove.
Rodney this is the way it has always been. Riders come, riders go. It is nothing new. We should be pleased that the big companies are putting their money into DH and not road/XC, etc.
Mike.
I feel sorry for Marc, why the h*ll are the A:s saying that they “inherited” him (like he’s some class b rider) and talk about “bringing back the glory” while in the same room as Marc? Did they already forget his amazing win in Val di Sole last year? Or that he’s pretty much constantly a top ten capable rider (as well as Mick Hannah was for GT)
I can see Marc not being comfy in that vid. He deserves more respect that that. Hope he beats both Gee and Dan next year..
Why aren’t they smiling on those mugshots? I’d be smiling if I got money to ride a bike.
@rondney, its a modern action sport that is looking to get tv and internet viewers and sponsorship. If you dont like shiny and corporate get out of the multi millon dollar kitchen.
The up side is that the athletes involved are getting better wages and support for what they do now, ask any of them wether they’d like to go back to ten grand a year and no prospects when you do retire. I think they’ll probly stick with corporate =)
Personally Im glad to see cash going into any form of action sport (so long as its not scooters) as it means more kids will get to see and hopefully get the chance to try sports outside the traditional football rugby and other tracksuit studies.
Rachel looks well fit
Is it me or does it look like Rachel has rabbit ears in the tall pic?
@Westie, I agree Mark deserves more respect. I respect the Athertons for what they have done but I think sometimes they could be a bit more humble. That inherited comment from the manager was a shocker. I hope that fires up Mark for a great season.
rodney, bad results = the sack. you dumb ass!!!!!!
rodney bad results = the sack! you dumb ass!!!
i wrote that twice to emphasise my point
lots of plaid running around there.
Inherited might not be a nice word but it is honest and fair (and they weren’t rude about it). 3 big name pro riders on 1 team (especially if they are getting the big bucks) is quite a bit to run – I recon any other team would have dropped Mark under the circumstances.
.
He is obviously a likeable chap and a good rider – hence he was retained.
.
It is also possible that the Atherton’s have some sort of performance break clause that allows them to ditch GT if they decide they are not happy. This would leave GT in the crap with no WC presence – again, another good reason to keep Mark.
.
Spread betting / not putting all your eggs in one basket …..
Beaumont looks like a Gnome in that beanie….
For god’s sakes Dan Brown put this family through a ‘how to talk to the media’ course, or at least brief them with some content for this interview. Contentless drivel imo.
I used to really enjoy watching anything to do with the Atherton’s but, with the exception of Dan, they are now really starting to grate a little.
For me, it used to all about the family but am now starting to hope that Gwin and co. spank the Atherton’s asses for a second year running, may make them realise that they are not bigger than the sport.
Really hope Dan gets some better luck this year in his upcoming events and pick up some wins to boot…
I’m not a hater, just getting sick of the hype.
Tim.
P.s – Let’s hope Mark doesn’t get pushed into a corner, he’s the most of the reason GT have been on the podium in the last few seasons….
Haha! Could have another Alonso/Hamilton situation here, nice likeable bloke on team vs arrogant not so likeable bloke, Gee and Marc have been bitter rivals since youth and junior so it should make watching the racing unfold all more entertaining! And no-one should feel sorry for Marc, the guys getting paid to travel the world and ride bikes remember? Although too much time spent travelling with Rachel Atherton could be enough to make anyone consider a career move!
A little confused, so is GT Racing Marc plus Atherton Racing or is Marc now part of Atherton Racing too? Does Marc keep his own mechanic or start using the polish bloke and the irish tramp too? (No offense Stevie;)!)Is Marc still on Fox for clothing and protection? Does Marc now have to buy a load of cats and drive around in a Vito in a pair of Ugg boots? Questions, questions….
….the polish bloke and the irish tramp too?(No offense Stevie)….
F@ckin’ Golden mate, proper laugh out loud moment there!
someone smile for christs sake….
Marc should not worry after all he smashed Gee at the worlds.
loving the comments, would like to see a Gee and Rach reaction shot, bet they wouldn’t have expected so much hate!!! they are starting to sound a bit arrogant tho, here’s to beaumont having his best year ever!
It’s such a shame that people with their skill level are so full of it.
Can’t argue with the skills, can argue with the attitude.
One of the reasons both myself and my family love to spectate DH is the paddock where unlike many other sports you can mingle with the stars so to speak, thus far the kids have sat on Danny Harts Giant whilst we had a chat, Marc Beaumont had a chat at one of the BDS rounds after winning in Italy the list goes on, the Athertons however seem to hide away in the mobile command centre…..maybe I have it all wrong but if everyone else can make the effort for the fans you know what I mean.
Err Jacob, have you not seen Myriam Nicole??
As for Marc Beaumont and not giving a shit about him, well judging by the comments here regarding how Marc must feel, I’d say 99% of us do care about him.
I only hope The team works as a team and not the Athertons vs Marc.
Just for a giggle check this out…..Only the Daily mail could come up with a photo shoot like this, and some crappy bike references and holidays!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1178053/The-brother-sister-world-mountain-bike-champions–Now-thats-family-outing.html
I think that should be “Jacob”…
Is this the real Jacob Gibbins? Not really sure it’s a good idea to slag off riders when you are a MTB photog/video dude?? Maybe you know them well and have had some run ins, but it doesn’t come across very professional.
On the other hand at least you’re not a kiss-ass!
Dont think anyone would use their real name when putting down someone who broke their neck and came back to the top levels of the sport and mocks a world champion due to her looks.
Either way, she looks amazing in that solo shot, but as has been said having a gf thats faster then you has gotta be hard to live with, free bikes tho!
There should be more interviews like this on Dirt, just filming, chatting, out of focus shots (so long as Rach is in focus!), Gee not paying attention, strumming & licking dogs! Life is what it is, out of focus most of the time.
Absolutely no problems with Marc’s speed, in fact, Marc will be in his element on this team.
Roll on the season!
Jacob Gibbons – why are you so unhappy?
@Panzer, to be fair to the Athertons, they seem to do a fair bit of signing at the Fort William world cup, quite often there’s a crowd of people round their command centre getting signed stuff n photos. They’re leaps and bound ahead of the monster/spesh team in that respect
Not only was it the worlds worst kept secret, but quite possibly the worlds worst camera work too!
SO sad… Marc looks like a battered puppy in that vid. I really feel as if he was shoved into this deal and that he ain’t too happy about it. Video quality was terrible too! Come on guys Focus!