After a four year partnership, the Atherton family has left GT Factory Racing. The move follows strong online speculation that the Athertons would be changing teams and was revealed by a farewell video posted by GT on YouTube this morning.

Gee, Rachel and Dan first signed with GT in 2012 after a long standing partnership with Commencal. Since then they have raced two iterations of the Fury downhill bike to 50 World Cup podiums, three World Championships and thee World Cup overalls. They have also been involved in the creation of the Red Bull Hardline event.

>>> Click here to see a Pro Bike Check with Gee Athertons GT Fury

There is no news yet as to where the Athertons are headed next but you can certainly expect athletes of their calibre and stature to be headed to one of the biggest bike brands and there are strong suspicions that it will be Trek.

>>> Show us your Scars: Rachel Atherton

GT said: “It’s been an incredible four years with the whole team. Together with the GT Product Team, GT Factory Racing developed world class products that have been proven on the world stage. The team proved that the partnership between GT Bicycles and Atherton Racing was unstoppable.”

Rachel Atherton said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to the company that carried me to 2 World Championships and 3 World Cup Overalls.

GT opened my eyes to the women’s specific market, they designed my first ever women specific colourway and basically made me smile every time I rode my bike.”