The Briton completed a perfect downhill World Cup season in 2016, winning all seven rounds to claim the women’s series for the second consecutive year.

Atherton’s winning streak on the World Cup circuit currently stands at 13, with the 29-year-old last missing out on top spot back at the 2015 season opener, also in Lourdes.

“I want to soak it all up because no one races forever,” she said before this year’s series.

“Of course, I still want to win but not at all costs anymore.

“I’ve got nothing left to prove to myself and that I believe is the hardest thing to achieve.”

Myriam Nicole could provide a threat to Atherton, with the Frenchwoman having finished as the runner-up to the Briton at last year’s World Championships.

Atherton’s team-mate Tahnee Seagrave will hope to be in contention for the podium.

Britain will have high hopes in the men’s event with world champion Danny Hart set to be joined on the startline by Gee Atherton and Laurie Greenland.

They will look to challenge last year’s World Cup winner Aaron Gwin.

The American will attempt to repeat his triumph in Lourdes in 2016, which provided the platform for his successful campaign.

Competition will take place over two-days, before there is a month break to the second World Cup event in Fort William.

The Scottish venue will host action from June 3 to 4, before Leogang in Austria welcomes riders the following weekend.

Vallnord in Andorra will stage the fourth event from July 1 to 2, with Lenzerheide in Switzerland hosting from July 8 to 9.

The penultimate World Cup will be held in Mont-Sainte-Anne from August 5 to 6, with the event in Canada then followed by competition in Val di Sole, Italy, between August 26 and 27.