It is with great sadness that British Cycling has learned that Malcolm Firth died in hospital in Manchester on the morning of Thursday 24 April at the age of 75.

Malcolm Firth was national coach for the Great Britain team coaching riders such as Paul Sherwen and Graham Jones, contributing significantly to developing cycle coaching methods in this country.

Firth was also ABCC (Association of British Cycling Coaches) senior coach and wrote extensively on coaching and cycling in general, a seminal figure in the use of heart rate zones and power in training.

Among his many accomplishments, Firth coached Graham Jones from a promising amateur to a member of the esteemed Athletic Club de Boulogne Billencourt (ACBB) amateur club, Jones later signing to Bernard Thevenet’s Peugeot squad in 1979, going on to compete in the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and other top races throughout the 1980s.

Firth worked closely with other top coaches throughout his career including former national coach Doug Dailey and former Great Britain Cycling Team performance director Peter Keen, collaborating with Keen on computerised ramp testing software that paved the way for methods still used today.

British Cycling president Bob Howden paid tribute to Firth and his contribution to the development of cycle coaching in Britain.

He said: “Malcolm was an extremely popular and well respected figure at British Cycling and we are all saddened to hear of the loss of such a tremendous servant to our sport.

“Malcolm laid many great foundations during his time as national coach of the Great Britain Cycling Team working with many top riders such as Paul Sherwin and Graham Jones. It is telling that these guys are still involved in the sport, no doubt influenced by the passion and dedication Malcolm brought to his role as coach.

“My thoughts, and those of everyone at British Cycling, are with Malcolm’s family at this time.”

Doug Dailey MBE was Great Britain national coach for ten years in the 80s and 90s and paid this tribute to Firth’s contribution to coaching.

“Malcolm was a guy who put a lot more into cycling than he ever took out. He was an early pioneer of applying good science to cycling coaching.

“He spent decades trying to improve on his understanding and measuring the demands of the sport. A sad loss.”

Former Great Britain Cycling Team road coach and current Rapha Condor JLT team director John Herety was coached by Firth’s friend and colleague Harold (H) Nelson and remembered Firth fondly from his formative years.

"He was a constant presence at Manchester division races that I attended in my formative years,” said Herety. “I always found him to be a quiet and thoughtful coach, one who was happier to stay in the background as opposed to shouting instructions out from the side of the road.

“During his many years of coaching, his contribution to cyclists’ careers would have run into the hundreds, but for me, it was his guidance of a young Graham Jones in the late 70s, who eventually went on to ride the Tour de France, that I will remember him for most.”

Malcolm’s funeral will take place at 2:30pm on Wednesday 7 May at Howe Ridge Crematorium, Lovers’ Lane, Atherton, Manchester, M46 OPZ.