Female Downhill World Champion, Rachel Atherton has been injured in a training ride crash in Santa Cruz, California.  Atherton was out riding her Cervelo road bike with brothers Dan and Gee when she was hit head on by a pickup truck.  The bike appears to have taken the brunt of the crash but Atherton suffered a dislocated collar bone and cuts to her face.  The British rider it seems was very lucky as she was riding on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash according to California Highway Patrol.  Atherton said that she swerved to try and avoid the crash but the driver had the same instincts and both veered towards each other.

The Animal-Commencal rider was removed to hospital by the emergency services but is expected to make a recovery in time for the start of the Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in April.  It appears her shoulder will need to be operated on.   We wish her a speedy recovery.