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The men’s Tour de France will start in Scotland for the first time in 2027 and make its first visit to Wales when Britain stages the Grand Départ of the men’s and women’s races in the biggest festival of elite cycling on the isles since London 2012.
Across six days of racing on British roads, the men’s Tour will visit Edinburgh, Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool, Welshpool and Cardiff, while the Tour de France Femmes races from Leeds to Manchester, then to Sheffield and also includes a central London stage. On Thursday night all host cities were illuminated by yellow beams in recognition of them staging the Tour.
Simon Morton, UK Sport’s director of events, said that the ambition was “to host a massive sporting event that would genuinely thread together the countries, cities, and communities of Great Britain.
“The route details do just that, enabling us to reach, unite, and inspire people right across the country – providing moments of joy for millions, bringing communities together, and delivering lasting benefits beyond race day.”
The Tour’s last British Grand Départ, in 2014, followed Tour wins by Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome and was a resounding success that drew an estimated 3.5 million people to the roadsides and fuelled £128m of economic benefit. Jon Dutton, chief executive of British Cycling, said that they expected to see 10 million people at the roadside in 2027.
The double-headed Grand Départ is far more ambitious than 2014 and will be easily the biggest logistical undertaking in the history of the Tour. It is also the first time that men’s and women’s Grands Départs have been hosted by the same country, outside France.
“The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain,” said Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour. “Bringing both Grands Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
The two Tour visits will be the cornerstones of a summer of cycling that will traverse Britain from north to south. The men’s race starts in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July with a first stage through the Scottish Borders to Carlisle.
Stage two takes the peloton from Keswick to Liverpool, while the third stage starts in Welshpool and finishes in Cardiff, after a long stage through the Welsh Valleys that takes in eight climbs in the final 50 miles.
“Wales is proud to host a stage of the Tour for the first time, which will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our stunning landscapes,” said Eluned Morgan, the first minister of Wales. “Hosting the final UK stage of the men’s race will raise Wales’ profile as a world-class destination for cyclists and other visitors, while inspiring more people to get active and deliver lasting benefits for Wales.”
Four weeks on, the Tour de France Femmes starts in Leeds on 30 July with a first stage to Manchester and a second stage through the Peak District to Sheffield. The final day of Tour racing is in London on 1 August, although exact route details are yet to be specified.
“Racing the Tour de France Femmes has been one of the highlights of my career, and seeing the women’s edition go from strength to strength has been genuinely inspiring,” the former world champion Lizzie Deignan said. “This is a huge moment for the sport and an opportunity that will inspire countless women and girls to get on their bikes.”
British Cycling, is also expecting the two Grands Départs to have wider and long-lasting benefits. “This is a once‐in‐a‐generation chance to build a healthier, more active and more connected nation,” Dutton said. “It shows the power of major events when they’re done right, to help deliver a legacy that will be felt long after the peloton has left UK shores.”
