E096: Irish Hills Gravel

In this episode, host Rachel Buchanan, Experience Jackson Vice President of Marketing and Communications, welcomes both Alexey Vermeulen and Bill Marshall to talk about gravel cycling and the NEW Irish Hills Gravel, coming to Jackson County (the Irish Hills of Brooklyn) on October 18, 2025. The race will start and end at Michigan International Speedway, and touch corners of Brooklyn, Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties with rider’s choice of either the 50K or 100k route. Alexey is an American cyclist currently competing on the professional mountain bike and gravel circuits – and a Michigan native. Bill Marshall’s connection to cycling dates back to summer 1984 when he began racing. Gravel racing was not yet popularized, but he spent considerable time on the gravel roads with both road and mountain bikes. Gravel racing eventually revived the sport of cycling. In 1990, he hosted his first gravel race and developed his passion as a race promoter. Having worked with some of the biggest races in the world, it is his desire to grow the sport of cycling in communities around the country. He is race director for this new event. Learn more at https://www.irishhillsgravel.com   You can always connect to learn more about Jackson County, Michigan and plan your visit at ⁠⁠www.experiencejackson.com⁠⁠. Experience Jackson is Jackson County’s official tourism bureau.   CREDITS  Podcast recorded, produced, and edited by Rachel Buchanan  Music Bed: Upbeat Uplifting Indie Pop by pinkzebra Registered Project Name: Experience Jackson Podcast License Date: 08/08/2023