THE Athertons have been in jetsetting action, taking a U.S. Open Downhill podium, before heading for Scotland where Gee won his first ever UK World Cup event, with sister Rachel narrowly missing out in the women's race, only to crash painfully at the following round in Austria.
In front of more than 18,000 spectators and fresh from the previous week's second place at the U.S. Open Downhill event in New Jersey, Gee thrilled the crowds at Aonach Mor and after qualifying sixth on Saturday, produced a commanding display in the final, his time of four minutes 35.7 seconds edging South African favourite Greg Minaar into third and surprise New Zealand package Cameron Cole into second.
"This is the most excited I have felt after any race," 25-year-old Gee told reporters after the race, "The big thing for me was the crowd. I could actually hear them for miles up the course. I could feel them willing me on. It is massive for me to finally win it in front of my family and all my sponsors and I'll be looking for this to catapult the rest of my season," he added.
There was drama in the women's race as Rachel Atherton, having led from the top of the mountain, crossed the line second, a fraction of a second behind France's Sabrina Jonnier. "I qualified fast but that meant there was lots of pressure for the final," she told reporters, "I really enjoy racing here."
The joy of Scotland however was replaced with agony in Austria where Rachel, the fastest qualifier, crashed out in the final run apparently reinjuring the shoulder that kept her out of action last year.
In the Four Cross event, Dan Atherton was showing well, but crashed out on his way to the finals. It was left to Gee to restore order, riding well to second place in the downhill final and missing out on a win by just 0.74 seconds.