It’s not a bad gig being in the biggest family in mountain biking. First a sojourn in San Diego and now a stay in San Remo to get bikes and bodies dialled in for the season ahead.

San Remo boasts a notoriously long, rocky and rough ancient cart track and is often used by World Cup riders as preparation for the intensity and physicality of the race circuit. We last visited in 2007 with Peaty, Bryce and Bliss and our pinkies still haven’t recovered full feeling! (check out the story here).

It sounds like the Athertons had a bit of a less messy time of it than us but instead cracked on with testing and will surely be feeling up-for-it in Croatia at the end of next month.

Here’s what they had to say: “A couple of weeks ago Gee, Rach and Charlie headed out to San Remo with top technicians Joe and Pete plus Rachel’s boyfriend Olly for a couple of days testing!

“But work on the Trek bikes had to wait until the team had tested a couple of e-bike rentals  around the town…

“A little bit of snow on the ground didn’t get in the way of some awesome days’ riding in the winter sunshine – the trails were dry, dusty, rocky and rooty – join in the fun!”