Double World Champion Downhill mountain biker Rachel Atherton has pushed the profile of women’s cycling, and women’s mountain biking in particular, well and truly into the mainstream.

She won the 2014 BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Award, and has worked to encourage and support more women getting into mountain biking.

The new 2014 Red Bull Fox Hunt event drew the biggest number of women to a female-only MTB event in the UK, and Rachel herself chatted to and encouraged the participants. She is dedicated to increasing the profile of women in cycling, and bringing more girls and women into the sport.

Despite her impressive achievements on the bike, Rachel is just one of the girls off the bike – super friendly and always happy to chat to whomever crosses her path!