Britain’s Rachel Atherton made history as she won a 10th successive UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup with victory in Leogang on Sunday.
Atherton once again produced a wonderful run, in 4:09.394, to surpass the record held by Anne-Caroline Chausson with Tahnee Seagrave completing a British one-two in Austria.
Yeeeeaaa Haaaaa!! Can't believe I just won my 30th World Cup AND my 10th IN A ROW!! thought… https://t.co/KUIrtcrirz
— rachel atherton (@rachelatherton) June 12, 2016
“Ten wins in a row,” Atherton said. “I had a really wild run. I felt the pressure today, I felt the nerves a bit. I’m pretty relieved."
Victory at Fort William on Sunday 5 June drew the Trek Factory DH rider level with Chausson’s record before Atherton's 30th world cup win saw her set the new benchmark.
Perfect 10.
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 12, 2016
Watch @rachelatherton make history with a record 10th successive @UCI_MTB Downhill World Cup win. https://t.co/mrXyZ3MY7v
The 28-year-old’s winning run goes back to June 2015, starting at Fort William. The three-time world champion leads the series on 980 points with three rounds remaining.
"Massive thanks to my team who always believe in me, my brothers, my mum and dad and the awesome sponsors who make sure I have the best of everything," Atherton said.
"And to the fans - hearing them shout my name is what keeps me upright.”
In the elite men’s event, Danny Hart was the highest placed British rider, finishing in fourth.
2011 world champion Hart set a time of 3:34.055, American Aaron Gwin won in a time of 3:28.686.
