Event News
You are looking at: Home : Event News

Team Animal Commencal 2007

Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton ready themselves for the upcoming season with new sponsors, bikes and clothing


Posted: 12 March 2007
by David Arthur

The newly formed Animal Commencal team will be looking forward to much success in 2007 and beyond with three of Britain’s hottest DH riders, Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton, signed up. The team will pilot the Madison distributed Commencal Supreme DH Team bikes kitted out with plenty of Shimano components, DT Swiss wheels and Fox forks.

Madison holds firm belief they are investing in future World Champions and as such have committed to give the guys their fullest support for at least the next three years. As soon as the Commencal distribution deal was completed, Atherton Racing was identified as the last piece of the jigsaw to take the Andorran bicycle brand to the next level.

The other piece of the jigsaw is Animal, the brand with which the Athertons have been involved with since 2002. The long serving Animal brand is celebrating their tenth birthday, and to commemorate have designed some special kit for the team, taking inspiration from Animal’s original zebra stripe Velcro watch strap of 1987.

To complete the look Animal’s design department has generated the entire team look including the Animal Commencal logo and bike decals. Over the forth coming weeks expect to see all new team truck designs, Dan Atherton’s helmet, posters and post cards.

Animal sponsorship manager Steve Kitchin (founder of the Animal Mountain bike team in 1995) added: “Dan, Gee and Rachel joined the Animal program in 2002 as juniors, over the last four years they have taken the Animal team to a new level of International competition performance and freeride action. The Animal Commencal team is a perfect partnership and we look forward to moving into future with the Atherton’s in what promises to be their greatest years so far”.

Look out for the team at the UCI World Cup, International freeride events and UK race circuit. Follow their progress at www.animal.co.uk and www.animalcommencal.com


Previous article Previous article:
Magura Marta SL gets a new colour
Next article:Next article
Intense System 4 tyres

Discuss this story

They could have smiled for the camera, new bikes and kit for the next three years and they look as miserable as sin.
Posted: 12/03/2007 12:46

Team Animal?

Looks like they are sponsored by DAZ.
Posted: 12/03/2007 12:50

:¬|
Posted: 12/03/2007 12:59

Forget about them, this is the team you wanna be watching.




(also sponsored by daz)
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:08

Incidently, that Rachel's not to bad looking - not seen her before. 7 years my junior mind.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:12

What a silly colour for a strip.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:13

You're not wrong
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:19

'The long serving Animal brand is celebrating their tenth birthday'

Of what? They've been supporting the Athertons since 2002, had an MTB team since 1995, and been making watches since 1987, now, unless I'm mistaken, none of those things are 10 years ago...

They do all look miserable, but I like the white kit, and they'll have enough stuff that'll it'll look perfect I imagine!
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:20

Wouldn't be very cool though would it, pro Freeriders smiling? Not in keeping with the whole moody, wallet-chain-shod, still trying to be a teenager, jeans 4 sizes too big image thingy.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:22

Watch straps since 1987 perhaps.

I had my animal watch on order in 1994? still have it albeit it's water resistance broke during a particularly heavy day and a two wave hold down.

Maybe animal clothing?
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:23

good advertising oportunity to be sponsored by persil.

lets hope they take plenty of kit.

obviously the toothpaste sponsor has pulled out.

at laeast the ratmbc team are smiling and wearing lycra,best of luck on the seasons races.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:27

Still trying to be a teenager 4AM? Rachel's 19 :-)
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:29

Wasn't being specific Nick, just the general Freeride thing. Even the 40-odd year old team managers seem to constantly wear baggies, Vans, beanies and a scowl. It's embarassing.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:34

Haha, yeah I love that, you get them coming into the shop trying to be all 'cool' and most of them can't even really ride a bike with any degree of finesse or skill!
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:35

hey, nor can I, but then I guess at least I don't try and act cool.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:44

what about us if we actually are teenagers? is it ok then?

wahey, she's only a year older than me
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:48


J D
Sorry Mike if you're still a teenager i automatically hate you !!!


;¬)


I wander what the wonga was that took them from Giant? Giant in my eyes would have been a better set up than a deal set up round a uk distributor.Evan one as big as ultimatepursuits.
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:55

What's your scowling like then mike?
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:56

ah but is he bovvered?
Posted: 12/03/2007 13:58

Why do you say that JD?
Posted: 12/03/2007 14:14

Yeah I'd have thought a set up through someone like Madison is better!
Posted: 12/03/2007 14:25


J D
A huge manufacturer of bikes for back up or a uk distributor (and a small brand of bike) !!?


Hmmm which i would i choose,(if money wasn't being waved in my face).

No criticisium of Maddy. Hell fair play to them for supporting uk talent,(i also like your work with Alan's BMX).
Posted: 12/03/2007 14:44

Its not like Madison don't have the money to offer proper support to the Athertons. The big plus point is that they are a British team being backed by a British clothing company and a British distributor. It also helps that Animal and Madison are owned by the same parent company so there is a real family feel to the deal. I have high hopes for them in the Worlds this year.
Posted: 12/03/2007 16:16

Who owns them then?
Posted: 12/03/2007 16:39

H Young Holdings. We also have a fishing division but what kind of weirdo likes fishing?
Posted: 12/03/2007 16:46

try
www.hyoung.co.uk
Posted: 12/03/2007 16:57

Yep that is us. I didn't realise we did such a diverse range of products.
Posted: 12/03/2007 17:06


J D
"H Young Holdings. We also have a fishing division but what kind of weirdo likes fishing?"

HeHeHe try here .

Yep british team is great,but so often british means small time not big time.

I had high hopes for them in the worlds regardless of who backed them.
Posted: 12/03/2007 17:09

youve just earned yourself a pay rise and promotion in the next staff appraisal, just learn all the relevant products you sell, or just tell your collegues at the coffee machine tomorrow.
Posted: 12/03/2007 17:12

Yeah I knew about the connection with Leeda, says both companies on the top of all your invoices! Not realised about all those other brands though!
Posted: 12/03/2007 19:13

Magic trees a go go!
Posted: 12/03/2007 19:58

Talkback: Team Animal Commencal 2007

First Name:
Last Name:
Nickname:
Email:
Security Image:
Enter the code shown:

I agree to the site's Terms and Conditions & Code of Conduct: