Dirt

For many years, downhill legend Steve Peat was mountain biking’s perennial World Championship nearly man, finishing second at the event in 2000, 2001, 2002 and again in 2008. He finally made it to the top of the podium in 2009 in Canberra, and has now competed in the event an incredible 20 times.

Over a long and illustrious career, Peaty has also become a triple World Cup champion, having won the overall series in 2002, 2004 and 2006 – he has competed in over 100 World Cup races, and taken a record 17 individual race wins and finished on the podium 52 times in the process. He is also a nine-time British champion and a double European champion.

He was born in Chapeltown, Yorkshire on 17th June 1974, and is now based in nearby Sheffield (hence the nickname, ‘Sheffield Steel’). He began riding bikes around his local park with his two older brothers at the age of three, and, even back then, the enjoyment that he derived from the sport was obvious.

After leaving Ecclesfield Comprehensive School, he worked as a plumber for a short time before turning pro with Saracen. After spells with Team MBUK, GT and Orange, he was recruited to Rob Roskopp’s new Santa Cruz Syndicate team in 2006, along with Josh Bryceland, Greg Minnaar and Cedric Gracia. Almost 20 years after his debut, he is still doing the business today in races and in films, where his famously fun and approachable personality is always on full view.