John Atkins

John Atkins (born 7 April 1942 ), 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.

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. 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. 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