RACHEL Atherton scribed her name into the annals of British sporting history by claiming her fifth Downhill Mountain Nike World Championship in Switzerland last week.

The 30 year old Llanrhaeadr based rider followed up her record sixth World Cup won last month with a never to be forgotten ride in Lenzerheide to lift the world championship crown for a record fifth time.

Llanfyllin’s Tahnee Seagrave led the challenge but none could compete with Atherton who stormed to glory by a 10 second margin.

“I’m stoked,” said Atherton. “This was the World Championship run so I knew that I had to throw everything at it and knew it would have to be special.

“All the way down I thought I was going to crash. Tahnee has been pushing me so hard all season. I was watching all weekend thinking I’m going to have to push on.

“I just went for it. It’s been a pretty crazy year. There were a couple of sections where I nearly went down. I’m just glad I stayed on the bike.

“I remember thinking at the top of the hill ‘I don’t care if I break my collarbone now. I don’t care if I hurt myself because I want that win. I was willing to risk it and push myself right to the limit and ride on the edge and that showed in the result.”

Meanwhile the eyes of the downhill mountain biking world turn to Machynlleth for the Red Bull Hardline on Saturday.

The race is known as the world’s toughest downhill event and includes a 65ft final fly-off.

The Atherton boys, Dan and younger brother Gee, will be among a top quality field of competitors from across the world.

Also among the field is Llanfyllin’s Kaos Seagrave, brother of Tahnee, who will be looking to emulate his sibling’s progress this season against some of the top downhill riders in the world.