The full route of the Tour de France’s return to the UK next year has been revealed.
The Grand Depart – the start of the competition – will begin in Scotland for the very first time.
Cyclists taking part in the 114th edition of Le Tour will set off from Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027 and will travel 184km (114 miles) to Carlisle in the opening stage.
The competitors will then travel 223km (138 miles) from Keswick to Liverpool the following day, before finishing the UK leg of the world’s biggest annual sporting event by completing the 223km (138 miles) between Welshpool and Cardiff on the Sunday.
As well as the men’s race, the UK will also host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The women’s race will kick off in Leeds on Friday 30 July 2027, travelling west and over the Pennines to Manchester.
Competitors will then cycle from Manchester to Sheffield via the Peak District National Park the following day, before concluding with a showpiece stage in London on Sunday 1 August.
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Further details on the London stage of the event will be announced this spring.
This is the first time both Grand Departs will take place in the same country outside of France, with organisers expecting millions of fans to line the streets to watch.
This is also the first time part of the women’s race will take place in the UK, however Britain has hosted two previous Grand Departs for the men’s competition – first in 2007 and again in 2014.
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, and Marion Rousse, director of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, welcomed the reveal of the host towns and cities.
At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Prudhomme said the organisers “want passion, we want huge crowds, but we want beautiful landscapes, we want outstanding sceneries”.
The men’s opening stage from Edinburgh will head through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, tackling the steep “Côte de Melrose” climb in the Eildon Hills.
Tracing the Scottish-English border along Liddesdale, the route will briefly dip into Dumfries and Galloway before crossing into Cumberland ahead of the set finish outside Carlisle’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.
Cyclists will then head to the Lancashire fells via Lancaster and the “Côte de Jubilee Tower”.
There will then be a further four categorised climbs on the edge of Pennines before the riders race to the stage finish at The Strand in Liverpool, under the watchful gaze of the Three Graces.
The third and final day of the men’s Grand Depart will take place in Wales, with a challenging leg south from Welshpool in Powys to the finish in Cardiff.
Eight categorised climbs line the route, with six in the final 80km as the race wends its way through and over the South Wales Valleys.
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Simon Morton, director of events at UK Sport, said: “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.
“The route details announced today 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.”
To celebrate the reveal, all 10 start and finish venues were scheduled to be lit up simultaneously with a yellow beam illuminating the sky.
A dedicated social impact programme will be delivered as part of the build-up to the races.
Organisers hope it will tackle inactivity, improve mental wellbeing, boost economic growth and support communities to thrive.
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Six core programmes will be rolled out across the home nations to create opportunities for young people to develop their skills, break down barriers for girls in sport, and to showcase community culture through the voices of Britain.
Additionally, British Cycling is aiming to recruit more than 7,000 volunteers to play a hands-on role in delivering the events – with more information to be announced in the spring.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan believe it to be a fantastic opportunity to showcase both nations’ stunning landscapes.
