Rachel Atherton is one of six women shortlisted for the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award.

The award, now in its 28th year, is designed to recognise “outstanding contribution made to sport by elite performers”. Rachel was nominated on the back of a year that saw her dominate the downhill circuit.

She won six of the seven World Cup races as well as the World Championships. She has also run community events such as the female Foxhunt. She won the Sunday Times Young Sportswoman of the Year award back in 2005

Watch Rachel overtake 91 other riders in her Foxhunt headcam

The other nominees are: Lizzie Armitstead (road cycling), Bianca Walkden (taekwondo), Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton), Charlotte Dujardin (dressage) and Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics). Ennis-Hill and Dujardin have both previously won the award. Atherton is the only athlete not in an Olympic discipline to earn a nomination.

Atherton said: “A real brilliant honour to be nominated for the shortlist. Downhill mountain biking is spectacular to watch and the mainstream media is realising how exciting a sport it is and just how good the Brits are.”

The Awards will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky 1on Friday November 6.