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Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton have announced their product development partners for Atherton Bikes’ inaugural race season.
Dan Atherton said: “Obviously product development will be key this year as we adapt and optimise our new bike. It’s great to welcome Renishaw and Trickstuff to the team and to re-connect with Continental Tyres and Stan’s No Tubes, all of whom will be highly significant in the evolution of our prototype to race-ready product.”
Renishaw is a manufacturer of additive manufacturing systems, and AM is the 3D printing process used to create the lugs on bikes and involves melting titanium with a laser. The engineers will enable Atherton Bikes’ 2019 bikes to be "fully customisable and more adaptable than ever before".
Team director Dan Brown said: “For 2019, we were looking for far more than traditional sponsorships. We are stoked to return to work with Continental with whom we have already designed a range of products. We’re looking forward to being back on board with further developing that range.”
Oliver Anhuth, Continental’s global head of marketing, said: “We have a shared history where we’ve developed top-performing tyres for specific purposes in The Kaiser 2.5 and the Mud Kings and we’re looking forward to returning to a partnership with Atherton Bikes that we’re convinced will yield great success on the MTB scene as well as future industry-leading product development.”
Atherton Bikes will revisit its partnership with Stan’s No Tubes and continue its relationship with Fox suspension. Cockpit, seatpost and pedals and mudguards remain with Renthal, Crankbrothers and Rockguardz respectively while WTB will work to deliver a custom saddle. A new cleaning partnership with Kingud, a local Welsh start-up, has been announced, and it will continue its relationships with Endura and Bell Bike Helmets.
In rider news, 2018 team mate Charlie Hatton will join Gee and Rachel to take on the Elites and Mille Johnset will graduate the Atherton Academy to take her full place on the team. Between them the new team will take on the full UCI World Cup Series as well as select Crankworx and Red Bull events.
