High-flying Gee Atherton happy to be in public eye as he chases more glory on Aonach Mor

The Salisbury-born 26-year old will be on Aonach Mor this weekend for the tenth UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William.

Having divested himself of the monkey on his back by winning this event last year in the Men's Downhill, much of the focus will be on whether he can muster up another winning run.

The way he sees it, if the claxons are sounding and the flashbulbs are clicking, he is clearly doing something right.

His attitude is, perhaps, understandable. Up until last year, he had had several cracks at mastering the 555m descent of Aonach Mor but never managed it.

Given the hysteria which surrounds Britain's leg of the World Cup, it was an event he was desperate to nail. When he did, it acted as a catalyst for the World Cup title and brought him the kind of critical acclaim he had waited so long to achieve.

"Of course, the attention does follow you when you win World Cup titles but that is what you are in it for, isn't it?" he says, speaking while waiting for breakfast to be served in a hotel in America, a country where he has done much of his preparation for this race.

"I had waited a long time to win at Fort William and it took a little while to sink in but, when you give your life over to something, you don't mind the attention."

Since last year, Atherton has spent some intense time behind the cameras as part of the online documentary, The Atherton project.

This video production airs on Red Bull TV and follows the World Cup champion, little sister Rachel and big brother Dan as they prepare for races, race and - generally - hang out. Despite their lives being on display, Atherton has no problems in seeing it for what it is.

"What the project does is show people what we do. Mountain biking is our entire life.

"There is no way we would achieve anything if we gave it 80 per cent.

"People sometimes ask us if it is difficult to make sacrifices but it is so important to us that it is not a sacrifice at all."

On the face of it, there is little standing in the way of Atherton recording another Fort William triumph this Sunday, other than the opposition, that is.In round one in South Africa, he enjoyed a podium finish; a solid enough start on a track which doesn't necessarily suit his style of riding.

Since then, he has been piling in the events, eager to live up to his billing after 2010.

However, no one can rule out the likes of Greg Minnaar and Sheffield's Steve Peat.

Californian Aaron Gwin's recent victory in the US Open has also stirred the pot and he will come into contention for a maiden Scottish victory.

"I'll be looking for the same again this year," says Gee, "but I know everyone will be stepping up their game.

"It is going to be exciting but very, very tough."

In the Ladies Downhill, Atherton's sister Rachel would have had victory on her mind after a second place last year.

Whether she can do that will depend upon the strength of her injured shoulder.

She sat out South Africa to focus on this event but knocking the powerful Sabrina Jonnier off the Fort William top spot is hard enough at the best of times without entertaining any doubts over fitness.

As for the Scots, 'the giraffe' Ben Cathro (23), from Oban, will hope the rocks and cross-winds don't blow him off course of a top ten finish. Cathro recently tried out the new sections of the track in a domestic event but ended up knocking himself unconscious. "I came round after a couple of minutes but I was talking gibberish," he says. A top-ten finish might not seem overly grand but if either he or Ruaridh Cunningham can achieve it this weekend, that will be a significant result for Scotland. Home fans will have something to cheer about.

Then again, there is always plenty to cheer when the mountain bikes roll into town.