The Grand Departs for the 2027 Tour de France will see cycling’s greatest spectacle return to the UK for the first time since 2014.
The men’s tour will begin in Edinburgh on July 2, 2027, snaking down to Cardiff via Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool, and Welshpool, covering 630km over three days, after which riders return to France by plane to continue the race.
The Tour de France Femme, meanwhile, will get underway in Leeds on July 30, heading to Manchester and Sheffield before finishing in London on August 1. It will be the first time the women’s tour has been staged in the UK.
British Cycling expect to recruit a minimum of 7,000 volunteers to support the event.
Talks are underway for the Grand Departs to be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.
British Cycling’s chief executive John Dutton said: “We expect a minimum of 10 million people to stand by the side of the road.
“We have such a wonderful opportunity to inspire the next generation. But also to make a commitment to social impact.”
It is hoped the Tour’s return to the UK can help promote cycling as well as general physical and mental wellbeing.
Lizzie Deignan, a two-time TdFF winner, hailed the event’s return to England as a potentially pivotal moment for women’s cycling.
“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.”
The men’s tour first visited England in 1974, with around 15,000 fans turning out to watch the one-stage event in Plymouth.
It has since returned three times, in 1994, 2007, and 2014. The 2026 Tour will get underway in Barcelona on July 4.
