The organisers of the Tour de France and British Cycling have confirmed the host towns and cities for the UK stages of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The announcement marks a historic moment, as it is the first time that the Grand Départs for both the men’s and women’s races will take place in the same country outside of France.
The men’s race will begin in Edinburgh on Friday 2nd July 2027. The opening stage will finish in Carlisle, followed by a stage travelling from Keswick to Liverpool. The final day of the UK leg will traverse Wales, going from Welshpool to Cardiff.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is set to commence in Leeds on Friday 30th July 2027. The route will cross the Pennines to Manchester, return to Sheffield via the Peak District, and conclude with a finale in London on Sunday 1st August 2027. To celebrate the route reveal, host locations were illuminated in a nationwide Tour of Skies event.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has forecast that staging the races will boost the UK economy by £150m. The UK Government has allocated £32m in funding to support the delivery and legacy of the events, which are expected to be accessible to 60% of the population within an hour’s drive. Regarding the scale of the event, the DCMS stated, Together the races will be the most accessible major sporting spectacle ever held in Britain.
Alongside the route details, the Joy social impact programme has been launched to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing across the home nations. British Cycling has also stated it aims to recruit 7,000 volunteers to assist with the operation.
Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France (ASO), said, “The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain. Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of British Cycling, added, “The Grand Départs in 2027 are about so much more than six unforgettable stages of racing – it’s about unlocking lasting change for communities right across Britain. Through Joy – our collective, game-changing social impact programme – we will put opportunity, wellbeing and community pride right at the heart of this moment in sporting history.”
Simon Morton, Director of Events at UK Sport,said, “Today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of what we expect to be the biggest free-to-attend event ever to be held on these shores. Our vision was to host a massive sporting event that would genuinely thread together the countries, cities, and communities of Great Britain, and show what we can achieve when we work together.”
