Blog
From Dead Last to 3X National Champ
08 July 2025
“I came dead last. We were looking at it not so long ago. I came 22nd, yeah I think I was about a minute back and I crashed twice. I didn't used to use the front brake. I'd two finger brake with the back brake, just pull it as hard as I can and obviously that doesn't slow you down.”
Words: Richard Cunynghame
Who is George Madley?
George Madley is Atherton Racing’s junior rider and has plenty of reason for why he’s able to look back and laugh at his first experience of Downhill racing. Back in 2015 at the age of eight he made the journey from his home in Buckinghamshire to the Forest of Dean.
Entering the 10-12 year old category, racing against some kids that were four years older didn’t dampen his drive. Now ten years later he finds himself aboard an Atherton Bike competing on the world stage. Three National Championship titles to his name. Juvenile in 2021, one slip up in 2022 with a crash in Glencoe, Youth in 2023 and Junior in 2024.
It’s clear George has the measure of the UK tracks. How is he adapting to the rigours of World Cup racing?
“In the nationals I was consistently on the podium every week. Sometimes French riders come over and race a national like Fort William so you do get to know some of the other riders that are fast from other countries. When you're actually at a World Cup, instead of one really fast rider, there's about 10 so it's a massive difference. You go from being at a national where you know everyone. Then you're at a World Cup and everyone's there, like people you've seen for years on the TV and they're all racing the same event as you.”
The TV being the same way he learned about the Athertons, “I remember watching the Atherton Project videos years ago. Then from being at the races last year you'd come past the Atherton pits and it was like they're having a great time, everyone's buzzing. I love it. I don't think I'd want to be in any other team pits. What I learnt a lot with this team is, obviously being really organised, but more, just not overthinking it. Which is easier said than done.”
George is one of the generation of riders that has grown up with trips to ride places like Morzine. Making the transition to European locations not as daunting as it once was, him even saying “some of the bits that were hard, not even on the bike, have just disappeared. Like trying to keep your gloves from getting muddy and your goggles from steaming up in the uplifts at Nationals.”
“The tracks we race in the UK don't tend to be very steep, so I feel like instead of generating speed, at the World Cups it's how you control the speed. Obviously, you're still pumping loads but trying not to overcook it. Like Val di Sole you you go out the gate and you literally don't pedal the whole track, whereas any other British track, that just doesn't happen.”
“Because there are so many fast riders, it helps develop the elites. You look at Leogang, the qualifying margin was 2.7 seconds across the top 20, which is crazy. There's a top few riders but there's no one that's just dominating every week, which is really cool. I think it's one of the best years to be a junior, there’s so many fast riders. I prefer to have the challenge than have it too easy.”
The junior categories are an exciting place to see these riders develop. In 10 years George has gone from not using a front brake to now admitting, “I'm quite particular on my brake angle.
”This season so far has been a story of consistency for George. In the top 10 at every race, aside from a crash in Loudenville. Garnering praise from the TV commentators as being “one of the most composed riders in this category.” With five races to go, at this halfway point of the season, he sits 7th in the series. A solid position to be as he looks to fulfil his goals, “for the rest of the season just consistently being inside the top five and that win.”