John Atkins (cyclist)

John Atkins (born 7 April 1942[1]), is a British former racing cyclist specialising in cyclo-cross, and 12 times national cyclo-cross champion. He was a professional cyclist between 1968 and 1979.

John Atkins
Personal information
Full nameJohn Atkins
Born (1942-04-07) 7 April 1942
 England
 Great Britain
Team information
DisciplineCyclo-cross
RoleRider
Amateur team
Professional teams
1968Marsh and Baxter
1969Carlton - Truwel
1970Fred Baker
1971–1972TI -Carlton
1973–1975TI - Raleigh
1975–1979Viscount - Shimano
1978–1979Harry Quinn - Galli

Biography

Atkins was born in Coventry, the son of Edith and Roland (Ron) Atkins. His mother was a prolific breaker of long-distance cycling records in the 1950s.

John Atkins began cycling on the cleared areas and bomb sites that followed intensive bombing of Coventry in the Second World War. He started racing at 17.

He won his first national cyclo-cross championship in 1961 when he was 19. He was in a group of four and passed them by taking a longer route to the right around bushes where the others had ridden to the left.[2] It gave him a few seconds' lead that he held to the finish.

He won again in 1962 but was handicapped until 1966 by a stomach ulcer. He dominated cyclo-cross in Britain for the next 10 years.

He came fifth in the 1968 world championship, then turned professional for a sausage-maker, Marsh & Baxter. A year later he moved to Carlton Cycles for five years. He rode for Viscount-Shimano from 1975 to 1978 and then for Harry Quinn Cycles. He retired in 1979.

Atkins founded John Atkins Cycles in Coventry, now known as Coventry Cycle Centre.[3][4] After retiring from professional cycling, Atkins ran a cycle and toy shop in Pwllheli on the Llŷn Peninsula.

Palmarès
1961
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1962
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1963
2nd British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1966
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1967
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1968
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1969
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross
1970
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross
1971
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1972
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1973
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1974
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1975
2nd British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1976
2nd British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross
1977
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1978
2nd British National Cyclo-cross Championships
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References
  1. "Profile". The Cycling Website. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  2. "Coventry - John's Results". Ride Coventry. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  3. "Coventry Cycle Centre". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  4. "John Atkins Cycles". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
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