John Atkins (born 7 April 1942[1]), is a British former racing cyclist specialising in cyclo-cross, and 12 times national cyclo-cross champion.

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 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.

He came fifth in the 1968 world championship, then turned professional for a sausage-maker, Marsh & Baxter.