Leeds and Edinburgh are to host the opening stages of the 2027 Tour de France.
The Grand Departs of the Men’s and Women’s races are said to pass within an hour’s drive of 60% of the UK population, as cyclists race along 900km of roads.
The Men’s race will start in Edinburgh and finish in Carlisle, while the Women’s will set off from Leeds and cycle across to Manchester.
The next stage will see the men’s peloton race from Keswick to Liverpool and then Welshpool to Cardiff. The Women will head from Manchester to Sheffield and then onto London.
“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,” said Christian Prudhomme, Director, Tour de France (ASO).
“Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
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The announcement was made last night, with the 10 host towns and cities illuminated simultaneously in a “Tour De Skies”. Leeds Civic Hall was transformed into a canvas, celebrating past British Grand Départs and revealing all six UK stages for the first time, as they wind their way across the country.
British Cycling has also confirmed that 7,000 volunteers will be recruited to support the delivery of the event, which organisers say will be the “largest free sporting spectacle in British history.”
“The United Kingdom has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Armitstead-Deignan. Starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour,” added Marion Rousse, Director, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
“These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”
Yorkshire cyclist, Lizzie Deignan MBE, British road and track racing world champion said of the announcement:
“Racing the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been one of the highlights of my career, and seeing the women’s edition go from strength to strength has been genuinely inspiring. To know that both the men’s and women’s races will start here in 2027, and especially that the women will come to my home roads of Yorkshire, is truly special. This is a huge moment for the sport and an opportunity that will inspire countless women and girls to get on their bikes.”
Full route details:
Men’s Tour de France route:
Friday 2 July | stage one: Edinburgh to Carlisle
Saturday 3 July | stage two: Keswick to Liverpool
From Edinburgh the opening stage will head through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, tackling the day’s sole king of the mountains climb on the Côte de Melrose amidst the Eildon Hills. Tracing the Scottish / English border along Liddesdale, the route briefly dips into Dumfries & Galloway before crossing into Cumberland, where the opening stage finish awaits in Carlisle, outside the city’s medieval castle.
The second stage will begin in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District National Park, heading south alongside Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere and skirting the Morecambe Bay coastline, before heading to the Lancashire fells via Lancaster and the Côte de Jubilee Tower. The undulating route includes a further four categorised climbs on the edge of Pennines before entering the Liverpool City Region, for the stage finish on The Strand in Liverpool.
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift route:
Friday 30 July | stage one: Leeds to Manchester
Saturday 31 July | stage two: Manchester to Sheffield
Sunday 1 August | stage three: London
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift begins in Leeds for an opening stage, travelling west and over the Pennines to Manchester.
Racing resumes a day later from Manchester for a stage through the Peak District National Park to Sheffield, with the peloton expected to pass through some of the most famous climbs, including the Côte de Snake Pass.
