Attention Cycling Fans: Tour de France Rolls Across the English Channel in 2027

In July 2027, the Tour de France will make cycling history in the UK. Three men’s stages and three women’s stages will put Britain on the cycling world stage. In fact, it will be a historic double-header: for the first time, both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes will hold their Grand Départs - in the same country - outside France. 

The 114th edition of the world’s most famous bicycle race will begin with a 630-kilometer road trip through Britain. The men take the peloton from Edinburgh through Scotland, England and Wales’ most compelling landscapes. Then, four weeks later, the women arrive and tour England.

It all gives cycling, outdoors and sporty travelers a great reason to plan a British vacation: to be part of the crowds cheering racers on along the route; or to channel (excuse the pun) your own inner Tour de France racer and plan a cycling trip through any of the race’s scenic vistas.

Le Grand Tour of Britain: The Men 

Stage One: Scotland 

Edinburgh to Carlisle — July 2, 2027 

The men roll out from their Grand Départ from Edinburgh on Friday, July 2, with the 184-kilometer opening stage beginning in one of Europe’s great historic capitals.

The teams will be formally presented at Edinburgh Castle on June 30, providing a dramatic opportunity to see the riders against this evocative and historic backdrop before racing begins.

Then the peloton heads south through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, past the Eildon Hills and over the Côte de Melrose before crossing into England and finishing just outside medieval Carlisle Castle appropriately.

Stage Two: England

Keswick to Liverpool — July 3

Stage Two may be the one that has travel photographers queueing for the best view.

Starting in Keswick, riders will race through the UNESCO-listed Lake District alongside Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere. Then come Morecambe Bay, Lancaster and the Lancashire hills before the race charges into Liverpool, finishing on The Strand in front of the city’s famous Three Graces.

It amounts to an extraordinary moving postcard of northern England.

Stage Three: Wales

Welshpool to Cardiff — July 4

On July 4, the Tour makes its first-ever visit to Wales. The 223-kilometer stage from Welshpool to Cardiff is also the toughest of the British opening stages, with eight categorized climbs, six packed into the final 80 kilometers.

The Côte de Rhigos and Côte de Caerffili could help determine who wins in Cardiff — and who carries the yellow jersey back across the Channel.

Then the Women Take Over

Don't put away the yellow bunting. Nearly four weeks later, the Tour de France Femmes makes its British debut with another three stages in England.

Stage One: Leeds to Manchester — July 30

The women begin in Leeds, where enormous crowds famously welcomed the men's Tour in 2014. From Yorkshire, the route crosses the Pennines before finishing in Manchester, giving northern England another day in the international cycling spotlight.

Stage Two: Manchester to Sheffield — July 31

The following day brings a considerably tougher proposition. The Manchester-to-Sheffield stage packs in nearly 3,000 meters of climbing, turning the Pennines and Peak District into both spectacular scenery and a serious sporting test.

Stage Three: London — August 1

For the British finale, the Tour heads to the capital — and makes a little cycling history in the process.

London hosts the inaugural team time trial in the history of the Tour de France Femmes: an approximately 18-kilometer race through central London, finishing on The Mall. Instead of a fleeting glimpse of the peloton, spectators will see teams racing separately against the clock through one of the world's most recognizable cityscapes.

French Connection

In 2027, you can still go to France for the Tour de France. After finishing the initial British stages, the race transfers back across the Channel to familiar roads in France for the remainder of the 114-stage grand tour.

But for both Grand Départs, set your sights on Britain. 

Find more information here at the Official Grand Départ Great Britain 2027 routes and visitor information

START YOUR SPORTING TRIP!

Images courtesy of Visit Britain

Top image credit: South of Scotland Destination Alliance/Clacks Active/ Andy McClandlish

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