In 2023, Forest of Dean local, Charlie Hatton, slammed through an incredibly impressive run at a very wet Fort William, which earned him the rightful title of the UCI World Champion. He did it aboard Atherton’s A.200.1, and when visiting the brand’s HQ to ride the S.170E e-MTB, I got a few minutes with Continental Atherton’s Team Manager, Tom Lloyd, to learn more about Charlie’s bike, how the winning run fell into place and what’s in store for 2026’s new venues.
When the UCI Downhill World Championship rolls through for another year, brands make a huge effort to adorn riders’ bikes with flashy and impressive paint jobs to celebrate the event. In fact, the paint jobs found amongst the pits are nearly as exciting as the race itself.
But for Charlie Hatton’s bike, Atherton took a much more subtle approach. Rather than fancy paints, the bike’s lugs got an extra polish, and the bike’s logos got anodised. Other than that, the bike is completely stock, showcasing the unique build approach that Atherton has become renowned for. Better still, apart from the polishing, additional anodising and the Ochain, you can buy this bike from Atherton.
As for the specification, it’s all pretty standard stuff. A Fox 40 Factory fork provides 200mm of suspension at the front while a Fox Factory DHX damps 200mm of travel.
Complimenting the dw-link suspension is an Ochain spider, a pedal-kickback reduction device wrapped with a rainbow chain to match the anodised parts on the frame.
Charlie then ran Stans Flow wheels with Continental’s Kryptotal FR tyres front and rear.
Shifting is provided by SRAM’s seven-speed XO drivetrain, and there’s a set of Haye’s Dominion A4 brakes, hooked up to Galfer brake pads and rotors.
Keeping the bike quiet and protected from chainslap is a homemade chainstay protector, made from mastic.
At the handlebar, there are ODI’s super slim Longeck grips clamped onto an FSA Gradient bar. Here, there are no riser headset cups. Instead, Hatton chose to reply on stem spacers to reach his desired height.
While chatting with Tom Lloyd, Continental Atherton’s team manager, I asked more about the incredibly wet race and the winning run.
off.road.cc: When the rain came, did you make any changes to the bike?
Tom Lloyd: As soon as it started raining, we put the longer mudguard on the front just because we were running the short one, and we could see the weather coming in. We also changed the [brake] pads to the wet ones. The Galfer stuff is pretty good anyway, but at that point it’s more about keeping heat in the brakes.
ORCC: Was the weather forecast? And was it something of a gamble to change those parts?
TL: It was forecast, we knew it was coming. Because it was world champs, there were a lot of riders, and there was a big break [in between riders], and you could see it coming in. It was going to be miserable, but Fort William almost gets grippier when it’s wet, a bit like Dyfi, as well.
Do you believe that Charlie’s nationality and experience of riding in the wet gave him a bit of an edge?
TL: I think so. Even just not beating yourself up about it before it’s even happened. You could see a lot of riders disappointed about the rain, almost admitting defeat before they started. Charlie was actually really excited when it started raining.
The whole weekend was fairly miserable. It’s hard work when it’s wet for everyone. Just washing clothes, keeping everyone dry and warm. No one likes it, but learning to thrive in it is a good thing.
Did he ride these tyres (Continental Kryptotals), as well?
TL: Yep, we knew from riding at Fort William for years that it gets grippier [in the wet] if anything. It’s not like Les Gets, where we were running [Continental] Hydrotals, which was another horrific race, where we spent most of the time at the jet wash.
[Fort William] is one of those tracks that’s really good in the wet.
How are you feeling about the new venues this season?
TL: Yeah, pretty excited. It’s definitely going to be interesting going to Korea. It makes it hard for us trying to organise it as it’s a new location, but it’s not the same carpark as we usually go to.
I’ve been to Leogang for the last 12 years or so, so I know where the shop is and where to go. Going to see a different culture will be very interesting.
I’m not that stoked on Whistler just because I know how much it’s going to cost. But I think the crowd there will be insane. Logistically, it brings challenges because we’re going from the west to the East Coast in two weeks, so it’s not the easiest, but I think it’ll be worth it because that atmosphere will be insane.
