A stunning double triumph for the Atherton Racing team at the 2023 UCI DH World Championships, as British rider Charlie Hatton claims the world champion title and Austrian athlete Andreas Kolb secures the runner-up position. Both riders relied on “Disc Shark®” components and Galfer Pro brake pads.
In early August, the 2023 Cycling World Championships took place in Glasgow, Scotland, featuring a memorable performance from the Galfer Bike pilots of the Atherton Racing squad. They secured the top two spots in the Elite men’s Downhill category. The DH final unfolded on the iconic Fort Williams circuit under challenging weather conditions, with mud and water on the track. However, neither Charlie nor Andreas allowed these conditions to hinder their remarkable descents, reaching maximum speeds while assured by the reliability of top-notch brake components. Clocking in at a final time of 04:26.747, Charlie Hatton emerged as the UCI DH World Champion for 2023 and will proudly don the rainbow jersey in the upcoming year. His partner, Andrea Kolb, also executed a spectacular descent, finishing just half a second short of victory.
This achievement marks the pinnacle of sporting success in the histories of both the Spanish brake manufacturer, Galfer, and the British bicycle brand, Atherton Bikes.
In the Women’s Elite category, Rachel Atherton experienced a fall during practice, which affected her performance in the final, resulting in an 8th place finish.
Notable mentions also go to British junior rider Dom Platt (10th) and American Elite competitor Austin Dooley (22nd).
In the realm of Cross-Country disciplines, Galfer Bike representatives achieved several “Top 10” positions across the “marathon,” “short-track,” and “olympic” categories.
In XCM, Colombian rider Leonardo Paez achieved a commendable 5th position, closely followed by Portuguese cyclist José Dias in 6th.
In XCC, Danish rider Sebastian Fini battled for victory in the short-distance competition but ultimately settled for 5th place. His teammate from the Lapierra-Mavic team, Swiss rider Thomas Litscher, also secured a spot among the top performers with an 8th place finish.
Turning to XCO, multiple promising Italian riders delivered strong performances. Elisa Lanfranchi claimed 7th place in the Junior women’s category, while Andreas Vittone took 9th place in the Sub-23 men’s category, and Gabriel Borre excelled in the Junior men’s category.
Next up, the world’s finest riders will once again cross paths in the upcoming UCI World Cup event, scheduled to take place in Vallnord, Andorra, from August 25th to 27th.
