S4 Ep59: Brother UK Cycling Podcast - Marc Etches interview

Marc Etches, a race organiser, commissaire and a member of the panel charged by British Cycling with implementing the recommendations of the Elite Road Racing Task Force, exemplifies the can-do attitude of a small coterie of volunteers who sacrifice time and effort to ensure elite domestic road racing continues.

In this detailed interview with co-host Timothy John, Marc discusses this year's edition of his Sheffield Grand Prix, the wider health of the National Circuit Series and his determination to ensure that the efforts of Task Force members, including Phil Jones MBE, Brother UK’s Managing Director, are not “swept under the carpet”.

Marc reveals the detailed planning behind the Sheffield Grand Prix, the distinct goals backers like McLaren and Cocker and Carr, a local estate agent, seek to fulfil in sponsoring the race, and its role in Sheffield City Council’s strategic ambition to rebrand an area famed for its industrial heritage as “The Outdoor City”.

From parking permits to crossing points, commissaire reports to UCI protocols, medical support to crowd control, Marc describes the myriad details that lie behind the biggest event on the National Road Series calendar.

With the Tour of Britain set to visit Sheffield in September, Marc describes his vision for a joined-up approach in which the councils who host Britain’s biggest bike race look further down the pyramid to national events. He describes the fundamental importance of volunteers to the success of his events and the rewards he is able to provide with support from local businesses like Browns restaurant.

Enjoy this open and engaging interview with one of British cycle sport’s unsung heroes. A passionate cyclist and a committed supporter of his city and region, Marc embodies the volunteer spirit on which the domestic scene depends.