Phil Atwill Returns to Propain on 'Free Athlete' Program

Jan 21, 2021 at 7:22
by PROPAIN-Bicycles  
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Press Release: Propain Bikes

We are very happy to announce that Phil Atwill is back on Propain Bicycles from now on.

After two years away from us, the style master himself will return to Propain as a free athlete running his own program. His main focus will be UCI World Cups, video projects and other events along the way.

Phil Atwill is born and raised in Berkhamsted (UK) just outside of London and one of the riders with the most universal skill packages you can find. Downhill, Enduro, freeride, BMX and even Trials, this man loves it all, but his main discipline is still Downhill. In the last UCI World Cup in 2020 he finished with an incredible stylish run and went for the podium. In 2021 he will race selected stops of the Mercedes-Benz UCI World Cup and other events where you’ll see him back in action between the tapes.

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Phil’s been living in Greece for just over 2 years now and has found himself at the core of the mtb community over there. Along with pushing his own riding, he’s eager to help grow the Greek scene. That being said together we’d like to welcome aboard young Socratis Zotos and Giorgos Panagopoulos. Keep your eyes peeling for these talented shredders.

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bigquotesI couldn’t be happier to announce I’ll be back on Propain running my own program for 2021 and beyond. Propain has been a massive part of my career from 2016 to 2018 with growing with the company to my first podium and many stand out moments. Such a genuine group of guys and girls there putting love into creating bikes for people just like themselves. I’m pretty stoked to be back on the same page and be in a position to support and be supported by a brand that I believe in. Propain offering me the freedom to do whatever I like and also bring in talented riders Socratis Zotos and Giorgos Panagopoulos has really got me excited and my creative senses tingling. That being said I’m still going to be following and focusing on the full world cup season and other events just with my own twist. Can’t wait to get stuck into it.— Phil Atwill

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Home
Athens, Greece

Origin
Berkhamsted, UK

Age
26

Other Hobbys
Gymnastics, Moto, digging and stroking cats
Favorite kind of bike
Depends on the session but trail bike normally ticks the box

Favorite place to ride
Pelion, North Greece

Favorite World cup track
Val di Sole

2021 resolution
Stay true to myself, have fun go fast and make some good content with some good c*nts.


bigquotesImagine you have a great girlfriend, you are the perfect match, but some crazy external circumstances make you break up and each one goes its own way. Without going into details but that pretty much describes what happened when Phil left Propain. None of us was happy. Fast forward two years, different circumstances and hey, we are back together. Happy days - welcome home Phil!— Robert Krauss, CEO

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The whole Propain Crew is stoked to have Phil Atwill in its rider rooster again and looks forward to the upcoming projects together.

Welcome back, Phil!

Enough talking, here is some unseen and old re-edited footage thanks to Tom Caldwell:


Also, make sure to follow Phil on his social media channels:

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube


Photos by:

Kat Georgudis
Boris Beyer

Author Info:
PROPAIN-Bicycles avatar

Member since Apr 13, 2015
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117 Comments
  • 272 1
 Phil the comments section Atwill folks.....
  • 13 49
flag dumr666 (Jan 21, 2021 at 8:08) (Below Threshold)
 plz get out. Tnx Big Grin
  • 69 0
 I'm just glad its not Propainganda
  • 2 0
 Back on the rooster. What's better than one rocker linkage?
  • 15 1
 Phil definitely has a propainsity for loyalty to former sponsors
  • 9 2
 The puns are putting me in propain
  • 22 0
 Will Phil Atwill Fulfill his will ?
  • 14 0
 How long is he tyeed into this new contract for?
  • 4 0
 I guess Propain ist now a hugenemy for Cube after signing such a great rider. But maybe not..
  • 6 0
 @dumr666: Yuma apparently didn’t get the joke. Prepare for AL the Rage.
  • 2 1
 @cougar797: please keep Tyee opinion to yourself. It is hugeneic, and stops me from writing rage opinions. Thanks
  • 5 0
 He's a consunmate Pro,pains me to say it
  • 5 0
 You never know whatwill, but I hope this move gets him to fulphil his dreams.
  • 3 0
 Still waiting for my girlfriend to come back
  • 72 2
 When does that ever happen? A rider returns to a brand after leaving. Super stoked for both parties. Phil is a great bloke and Propain makes some killer bikes.
  • 26 1
 Jared Graves - Yeti Brook MacDonald - Mondraker Just saying. Some brands and riders just mesh well together I guess!
  • 8 2
 Didn't Lopes return to Ibis recently?
  • 4 2
 Zink to Hyper
  • 47 6
 @slish: Does anyone care?
  • 8 1
 @danielhfranks: lol, i guess not
  • 3 0
 @slish: he should go back to mongoose. His glory days
  • 7 0
 @C1audio: Joe Barnes and Orange?
  • 7 0
 THIS IS THE BEST TRANSFER NEWS OF THE DECADE! It's like my prayers have been answered. Send it Phil!
  • 3 0
 Brage to GT
  • 2 0
 Thomas Vanderham - Rocky Mountain
  • 37 1
 Just reading the below lets you know why he wanted back in, such a rad company with beautiful bikes

"Imagine you have a great girlfriend, you are the perfect match, but some crazy external circumstances make you break up and each one goes its own way. Without going into details but that pretty much describes what happened when Phil left Propain. None of us was happy. Fast forward two years, different circumstances and hey, we are back together. Happy days - welcome home Phil!— Robert Krauss, CEO"
  • 13 0
 SEXY TIME!
  • 9 0
 Tonight we're gonna make love
You know how I know?
Because it's Wednesday
And Wed night is the night that we usually make love
Monday night is my night to cook
Tuesday night we go and visit your mother
But Wednesday, we make sweet, weekly love
  • 5 0
 @acali: it's business time!
  • 30 2
 So happy to see this but secretly wanted him on the Cathro privateer team
  • 16 1
 I can imagine running cameos where Phil forgets to make any pit arrangements and shows up to talk Cathro into letting him squat in his tent.
  • 3 1
 @MarcusBrody: I know they're buddies, but I'm sure Ben will draw the line at a 'dirty protest' in his pits.
  • 2 0
 This technically does not rule it out yet... So far he has frame and tires, his own terms could still mean he and his new team mates can share pits and other sponsors with Cathro (who gets his own frame and tires)!!! So the dream is not over till its over!
  • 21 0
 Fuck yeah. Also hyped for the 2 young lads. Bright future ahead.
  • 2 1
 The first Greek riders to be on a factory team if im not mistaken
  • 6 0
 @petrospit: except they are not on the factory team but in the free athlete programme. Whatever thatis...
  • 20 1
 I still don't understand what "free athlete" means....
  • 15 3
 I'm guessing they don't pay him. But I could just be reaching.
  • 21 0
 I am guessing it means that they sponsor him, but he isnt in their official world cup team.
  • 4 1
 @PaulBoettig: If so, "free athlete" probably isn't the most accurate description.
  • 25 0
 i mean it seemed fairly clear what the deal is, hes with the brand but running his own racing programe and media, probably gets his own seperate budget (maybe a wage) and he does his thing
  • 22 0
 From what they were saying, its just his own program. So still supported but not factory WC team and therefore has more flexibility to do other stuff like video projects, outside events etc. Think Yoann Barelli or Mitch Ropelato type program but with a bit more racing focus...
  • 2 1
 @chriskneeland: yup - struggle for the $$$$.
  • 28 0
 It means Phil is in prison and Propain tries to bail him out. #freephil
  • 9 1
 It means that Ben Reid gets to maintain his sanity.
  • 1 1
 Maybe he's sponsored pro but not just for racing?
  • 4 0
 Or does it mean that he's not in jail?
  • 14 0
 Given the girlfriend reference, maybe he is allowed to sleep around? Or would that be an “open athlete”?
  • 1 0
 @MarcusBrody: 100%
  • 2 0
 @MarcusBrody: can maintain sanity but not riders or staff? Big Grin
  • 2 1
 I thought Atwill threw the dummy out of the pram when he left Propain previously?
  • 3 6
 @excavator666: You're going to have to translate that for the rest of us
  • 3 0
 And where can one get one of these free athletes?
  • 6 0
 @chriskneeland: "threw his passifier out of the baby carriage."
  • 1 0
 @chriskneeland: How is "free" not accurate? He's free to choose his other racing sponsors, components, kit and work on his own non-racing projects as opposed to being confined by what the factory team uses/does.
  • 1 0
 It means he doesnt want to ride for Ben Reid (propain team manager) again.
  • 12 1
 It's very evident by Phil's old hardtail edits that he's just on another level. I normally couldn't give 2 shits about team announcements, but I hope Phil's able to put together the race season to reflect his insane talent on the bike.
  • 13 0
 Is digging and stroking the cat a European euphemism for sex?? haha Gotta love Phil
  • 10 1
 is there a clinical term for bottom bracket sniffing?
  • 7 0
 Hell no! He just loves diggin' n pussys...
  • 2 0
 @ceecee: hahah well played
  • 6 0
 @ceecee: Or seat tube fingering?
  • 2 0
 @drunknride: OMG the way he jams that seat tube is obscene!
  • 4 0
 Two years apart. Totally understandable.
  • 1 0
 Glad someone else picked up on 'stroking cats'... Yeah, sure Phil. I'm sure you mean 'cats'.
  • 12 1
 The only one in ratboy's league.
  • 2 0
 Yep. I always think they ride like they were born attached to a bike already...
  • 8 0
 I also like to stroke cats.. Awesome news
  • 4 0
 Propain's press release says he'll be racing selected World Cup races, Phil's press release says he'll be focussing on the full World Cup season. I hope he's there for all of them (assuming they all go ahead), such a great rider to watch, one of the most stylish out there.
  • 5 1
 I made a foul comment about him 4 years ago when he trashed everyone at the Finnish line laughing, what an ass I was, everyone was laughing, he just kept killing it constantly and won me over with his mad skills especially after listening to him in interviews. Dude is the real deal and I am stoked for both Propain and for Phil along with the DH community. Can not wait for the next DH race I miss the hell out of them all.
  • 4 0
 Edit track.. Ill Al Skratch 'Don't shut down on a player' remix.

mzboombap1.bandcamp.com/track/ill-al-skratch-dont-shut-down-on-a-player-remix
  • 2 0
 Thank you very much sir Big Grin
  • 2 0
 you know my wishes way before i do... next life, let's marry.
  • 3 0
 Good luck Phil. I hope he does every round and get some good results, he's shown he can get on the podium and be awesome to watch while doing it.
  • 4 0
 Its spelled "roster" you cock.
  • 2 0
 Fantastic. This is great news. One of the vry best riders on one of the best bikes. I cannot wait to see Phil ride this year. It is going to be awesome!
  • 2 0
 Congrats Phil, that's great news! Not gonna lie, when the headline said 'free athlete' I was scared he wasn't getting paid...
  • 1 1
 Wow. I can’t believe he didn’t get picked up by a factory team. Tons of talent. I believe he’s been on the podium a few times in the past and as a bona fide top 10-15 threat in my opinion. Hopefully he can pick up the extra support he needs from Ben Cathro and his crew of privateers.
  • 12 12
 How about keeping it a bit more classy than the "finger and tongue" gestures! Maybe Propain is the type of company that wants that sort of behavior, but as a father of a daughter who is very involved in the sport of MTN biking, that sort of derogatory BS – [IN ALL SPORT] has gotta go!
  • 4 2
 Juvenile probably, not derogatory.
  • 3 1
 "Hey *insert daughters name*, you should not read this article." would suffice.
  • 3 2
 @Neale78: Ah, there's the rub - pun intended??!! "Juvenile behavior??!!" .. this sorta thing, which is seen by the up and coming youth as being OK, keeps the ongoing sexist BS going!!! Lemme ask, if there were racist remarks .. would it have the same tolerance?!!!???
  • 2 0
 No. Here you go.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=92i5m3tV5XY
  • 3 1
 The people's champion! Wish him all the best! Plus, Ben Reid can keep his sanity.
  • 3 0
 He's giving that frame a proper snow!
  • 14 0
 Perfect cunni-link-us in the 2nd shot.
  • 2 0
 @BenPea: gracias, tio fella
  • 2 0
 @BenPea: I think you just named the rocker link on the next generation of @TransitionBikeCompany bicycles.
  • 2 0
 If I could magically ride like anyone for a day it would be Phil. Everything looks so good and so much fun.
  • 1 0
 Reminds me when Joe Barnes left Orange for Canyon before returning to the obviousness
  • 3 1
 Propane propane propane ..
  • 3 0
 What a pleasant surprise
  • 2 0
 Best PB news of 2021 so far!
  • 3 0
 Well this is exciting!
  • 2 1
 in the words of an infamous mtb tune ...phill moved to propain so I did too. Yeap... still faster than you!
  • 1 0
 So this means there should be a brannigan and atwill video coming up soon. DO IT
  • 4 3
 This bike looks like another candidate for a Knolly lawsuit
  • 2 0
 Yeah!
  • 1 0
 FAP... the early demo version of WAP.
  • 2 0
 Good stuff Cheers mate
  • 1 0
 Back on a 4Bidden too. Fate.
  • 1 0
 Ride is personal sponsor but Go with Cathro team ??
  • 2 0
 So stoked on this!
  • 2 0
 Fukc YEah !
  • 1 0
 Why all the photos of him with the old frame, COVID?
  • 1 0
 Great to hear. Such a stylish and technical rider!
  • 1 0
 that's a proper drop to flat at 0:32
  • 1 0
 Yeah bey! Lew bates best mate on Propain! Nice!
  • 1 1
 What a cracking sense of humour! A finger, a lick, and a fist! LoL Good on ya! '21 should be a banger Smile
  • 1 0
 Just as well that Phil can ride just as well, backwards?
  • 1 1
 "and make some good content with some good c*nts". was that actually necessary??
  • 1 0
 hometown hero
  • 1 0
 HELLAS!!!
  • 1 0
 Great Styler....
  • 1 0
 Good on ya Phil!!
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