As part of a growing membership tradition, each year we select an honorary ‘Escapee Member #1’ – someone who has made a meaningful impact on the sport we love and embodies the values that inspire us.
For 2025, we’re thrilled to announce that Grace Brown has accepted our invitation to be Escape Collective’s Member #1!
Last month, we invited our members to submit nominations, and Grace’s name stood out overwhelmingly. This recognition speaks volumes about the admiration and respect she’s earned within our community and in the sport.
Grace’s career and results speak for themselves, but what is far more meaningful and enduring are the way they were achieved, and what they represent: a commitment to hard work, consistency, involvement in the community, and being a role model to young and old.
So, what does being Member #1 entail? It’s a symbolic role, not a demanding one, but we’re excited to support Grace in her work as President of the TCA and her other initiatives in any way we can.
Here’s what some of our fellow Escapees had to say about why Grace is such a perfect choice:
“A talent, a role model, a fantastic person, and exiting the sport with such ‘grace’ while going out on top” – Maricela Lopez
“Leaving on a high and always being inspiring to the peloton and the next generation of female cyclists and going onto the Alliance after Iris Slappendal stepping down.” – Sue Jackel
“What a year she had and what guts she is showing by sticking to her guns and retiring at the top.” – John Neale
“An amazing final year of racing with olympic and world champs gold medals, plus a monument. But overall she is a truly great person off the bike too and very supportive of the whole cycling community here and overseas.” – Nik
What she achieved this year is nothing short of astonishing. Form like that, sustained across months with multiple peaks, doesn’t happen accidentally. It’s the result of next level work ethic, planning, discipline, and determination. She proved that she’s one of the best cyclists ever to come out of Australia, and her achievements this year show her to be one of, if not the most professional of all our pro cyclists. – Paul Wiseman
An amazing career topped off by a remarkable year with 2 Olympic gold, WC gold and best of all the first Australian women’s monument. she DNFd her final road race pleading with the commissaries to stop an unsafe race and now she is going to serve the women’s peloton through leadership at The Cyclists’ Alliance. No worthier cyclist to be awarded #1 membership. (Although Gerry Ryan must get it one year) – Jenny Hughes
Great rider, better role model, Mic Drop season! – David Coventry
Grace has been an amazingly successful cyclist in her own right. Importantly, while she is walking away from competition, she will be taking the helm of The Cyclists’ Alliance which is an example of her awareness and selflessness of the value she can bring though her experience, knowledge, and abilities as a person to drive and encourage fairness in women’s sports – something which needs defending. – Andrew Gordon
Escapees, please welcome Grace Brown as our 2025 Member #1. And thank you to Richie Porte for sitting in the hotseat for 2023-24!
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