The first three stages of the men’s race will feature a Grand Départ in Edinburgh on July 2, followed by a second stage in northwest England and a third stage through Wales. The opening stage will end with a sprint finish in Carlisle, the second stage will traverse the Lake District from Keswick to Liverpool, and the third stage from Welshpool to Cardiff is expected to provide the first major challenges for Yellow Jersey contenders before the race returns to France.
For the first time, both the men’s and women’s Tours de France will start in the same country outside France. The Tour de France Femmes will open with stages from Leeds to Manchester, Manchester to Sheffield, and a third stage around London.
Organisers hope to replicate the success of the 2014 Tour, when the opening stages in Yorkshire and Cambridge drew an estimated 4.8 million spectators. By taking the 2027 races to multiple UK cities, organisers predict the crowds could more than double, making it “the largest free sporting spectacle in British history.”
Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said:
“This is not just a sporting moment, it’s a national moment. We’d expect a minimum of 10 million people to stand by the side of the road. This is a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to build a healthier, more active and connected nation.”
The UK Grand Départ continues the trend of the Tour de France starting outside France, following the men’s race in Florence in 2026 and Barcelona this year. Competition to host the opening stages remains fierce, with Edinburgh set to welcome cycling fans from across the UK and beyond next July.
