Rachel Atherton looks to the World Championships

Having suffered a dislocated shoulder during her race run at Round 3 of the World Cup Series in Leogang, Austria, Rachel Atherton has opted to miss the next two World Cup rounds in favour of strengthening her shoulder ahead for this years World Championships.

Speaking on her personal blog via the Athertons website Rachel comments on her decision, "Things seem rather clear to me at the moment, I guess that when big things happen, everything drops into a rather more grounded perspective, and so it was with a clear, if somewhat sepia head that i decided it would be in my best interests not to race." 

Rachels shoulder has made great progress since her crash in Austria but with the forthcoming World Cups both being held on technical gnarly tracks it was too much of a risk for Rachel with a shoulder that is not 100%.

The former World Champion was looking forward to returning to the venue where she claimed the 2008 title in spectacular fashion and, " a track where, in every rut and root, lies a little piece of my heart" Atherton mentions. She will have to wait another year until the World Cup visits Val di Sole again.

Rachel will make her return to racing next month at the Crankworx Festival in Whistler, BC, Canada before racing the World Cup Finals and World Championships later that month.

Read her full blog entry at http://www.athertonracing.co.uk/