DESTINATION GREAT BRITAIN
Britain is a tapestry of contrasts: ancient castles and cutting-edge architecture, rolling countryside and vibrant cities, timeless traditions and contemporary creativity.
Visitors can experience centuries of history while enjoying modern comforts and dynamic cultural scenes. Whether you’re drawn to royal landmarks, literary trails, or culinary adventures, Britain offers something for everyone.
All combined with the British love of sport, whether it be participating in community sport or watching it live.
This is a nation who is proud to have invested in over 300 major events in the last 20 years, creating many extraordinary sporting moments that live long in the collective conscience.
UK Sport is proud to support the hosting of the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ, which will showcase the best of Scotland, England and Wales, with millions of spectators lining the streets creating an atmosphere unlike no other.
Britain isn’t just hosting the Grand Départ – it’s inviting you to discover a destination where every mile tells a story.
STAGES OF THE GRAND DEPART
STAGE 1 I 2/07 – EDINBURG > CARLISLE – 184 KM
Heading south from the Scottish capital, this stage could well suit the sprinters, allowing one of them to pull on the first Yellow Jersey. Running through very rural terrain, the route features some magnificent scenery. It’s undulating too, reaching an altitude of 400 metres, but the climbing is almost always on long false flats and there’s only one categorized ascent on the menu. The final section, which is flat and will take the race from Scotland into England, leads into Carlisle where there’s a short finishing straight.
Tour de France 2027 – Grand Départ Great Britain – stage 1 route
STAGE 2 I 3/07 – KESWICK > LIVERPOOL – 223 KM
The beautiful Lake District National Park will provide the backdrop during the opening kilometres. Once beyond Lancaster (km 75), the route will become more rolling and challenging until it reaches the outskirts of Liverpool. With five climbs counting towards the King of the Mountains
classification, this should be an ideal stage for the breakaway specialists. However, those sprinters who’ve got some resilience could well come back into play in the final stretch, which is fairly flat and runs mostly through built-up areas. In front of what are sure to be huge crowds,
the riders will have to remain vigilant, especially on the descent before the kilometre-to-go banner.
Tour de France 2027 – Grand Départ Great Britain – stage 2 route
STAGE 3 I 4/07 – WELSHPOOL > CARDIFF – 223 KM
Taking place entirely within Wales, this stage is not only gruelling but also has an explosive finale and will put the peloton’s team leaders and more punchy performers to the test. Following a pretty straightforward opening 80 kilometres, which will be ideal for getting the legs nicely warmed up, there’ll be a series of long and sometimes difficult climbs, such as the one at Epynt
(3.7km at 7.9%). Beyond kilometre 125, the race will enter the old coalmining area where the climbs will get shorter and steeper. Located 12km from the finish, the Côte de Caerffili (2km at 8.1%) could well trigger a fierce battle that the major contenders will almost inevitably be drawn into. A very fast run through Cardiff will pass close to the 11th- century castle and the Principality Stadium.
Frauen:
Key points:
• The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will kick off the 2027 edition with three stages on English roads, a month after the Grand Départ of the men’s peloton in Great Britain.
• In Manchester, the Maillot Jaune could go to a sprinter, after a first stage without any major difficulties, starting from Leeds, the city of Beryl Burton.
• Yorkshire and its pioneers, including Lizzie Deignan, will once again take centre stage on the second day of racing, when the peloton heads to Sheffield, before a third stage in London.
A historic and vibrant Grand Départ. In 2027, the peloton of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will cross the sea for the first time in its history to take on three stages in England, one month after the Grand Départ Great Britain of the men’s Tour de France. From Leeds to London, passing by Manchester and Sheffield, the route will bring varied challenges. The racing shall be intense to honour the region’s rich cycling history, through lands that have seen the emergence of some great pioneers.
Champions and spectators will gather in Leeds, where the first stage will start on Friday 30 July. The capital of Yorkshire previously hosted the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014. At the finish in Harrogate, Marcel Kittel sprinted to the Maillot Jaune. A few decades earlier, the city welcomed Millie Robinson and gave birth to Beryl Burton, two of the most illustrious pioneers of British and world cycling. More recently, Yorkshire has seen the emergence of Lizzie Deignan, who has achieved multiple conquests on and off the road, and the young prodigy Cat Ferguson.
In 2027, the riders will leave Leeds to head to Manchester, home to British Cycling.
Close to the famous velodrome, the scene of many historic performances since 1994, the sprinters will be able to draw inspiration from the iconic Sarah Storey and emulate the Dutch arrows Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool, whose speed powered them to the first Maillot Jaune in 2022 (in Paris, France) and 2024 (The Hague, Netherlands).
The next day, the peloton will set off from Manchester, cross the famous Snake Pass, and return to Yorkshire. The finish in Sheffield will once again echo the 2014 Tour de France: at the end of stage 2, the overall lead changed hands after Vincenzo Nibali’s late attack. The riders will arrive at the same place, but in the opposite direction. Another change of leader could occur on this occasion.
Finally, the third stage will take place in London, where Fabian Cancellara dominated the Grand Départ of the Tour 2007, before Kittel’s sprint victory in 2014. Emma Pooley’s city, where Wiebes has won the RideLondon Classic three times, will now welcome the stars of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Alongside the route announcement, organisers also revealed Joy, the social impact programme at the heart of the 2027 Grand Départ, that aims to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing, support communities to thrive, and to make Britain more productive and prosperous through cycling.
Marion Rousse, Director, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
“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. These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”
Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, UK government :
“These routes will reach places few other events can and give people another reason to be proud of where they live. All over the country, they’ll see world-class cyclists pass through their towns, down their high streets and maybe even right past their front doors. Events like the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift bring communities together, boost local economies and inspire more people to discover the benefits of sport. We cannot wait to welcome these iconic races next year.”