Key Takeaways
- The men’s Tour de France will start in Scotland for the first time in 2027 and visit Wales for the first time, with the Grand Départ of the men’s and women’s races taking place in Britain.
- The men’s Tour will visit Edinburgh, Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool, Welshpool, and Cardiff, while the Tour de France Femmes will start in Leeds and visit Manchester, Sheffield, and London.
- The event is expected to attract 10 million people to the roadside and generate significant economic benefits.
- The double-headed Grand Départ is the first time that men’s and women’s Grands Départs have been hosted by the same country outside of France.
- The event is expected to have long-lasting benefits, including inspiring people to get active and delivering a legacy that will be felt long after the event.
Introduction to the 2027 Tour de France
The men’s Tour de France will make history in 2027 by starting in Scotland for the first time and visiting Wales for the first time. The Grand Départ of the men’s and women’s races will take place in Britain, marking the biggest festival of elite cycling on the islands since the 2012 London Olympics. The event is expected to be a massive success, with millions of people expected to attend and significant economic benefits anticipated. The men’s Tour will visit Edinburgh, Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool, Welshpool, and Cardiff, while the Tour de France Femmes will start in Leeds and visit Manchester, Sheffield, and London.
The Route Details
The routes of the 2027 Grands Départs will thrill cycling fans across Britain. The men’s race starts in Edinburgh on Friday, July 2, with a first stage through the Scottish Borders to Carlisle. Stage two takes the peloton from Keswick to Liverpool, while the third stage starts in Welshpool and finishes in Cardiff, after a long stage through the Welsh Valleys that takes in eight climbs in the final 50 miles. The Tour de France Femmes starts in Leeds on July 30 with a first stage to Manchester and a second stage through the Peak District to Sheffield. The final day of Tour racing is in London on August 1, although exact route details are yet to be specified.
Ambition and Expectations
The ambition of the event is to host a massive sporting event that will genuinely thread together the countries, cities, and communities of Great Britain. Simon Morton, UK Sport’s director of events, said that the route details do just that, enabling them to reach, unite, and inspire people right across the country. The event is expected to attract 10 million people to the roadside, with Jon Dutton, chief executive of British Cycling, saying that they expect to see a significant increase in attendance compared to the 2014 Tour de France, which drew an estimated 3.5 million people to the roadsides and generated £128m of economic benefit.
Logistical Undertaking
The double-headed Grand Départ is far more ambitious than the 2014 event and will be easily the biggest logistical undertaking in the history of the Tour. It is also the first time that men’s and women’s Grands Départs have been hosted by the same country outside of France. Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour, said that the UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain. The event will be a testament to the strength of the partnership between the Tour and British Cycling, as well as the enthusiasm of the UK.
Wider Benefits
The event is expected to have wider and long-lasting benefits, including inspiring people to get active and delivering a legacy that will be felt long after the event. British Cycling is expecting the two Grands Départs to have a significant impact on the country, with Dutton saying that it is a once-in-a-generation chance to build a healthier, more active, and more connected nation. The event will show the power of major events when they’re done right, to help deliver a legacy that will be felt long after the peloton has left UK shores. Former world champion Lizzie Deignan said that racing the Tour de France Femmes has been one of the highlights of her career, and seeing the women’s edition go from strength to strength has been genuinely inspiring.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes will be a historic and exciting event that will bring together the countries, cities, and communities of Great Britain. The event is expected to attract millions of people to the roadside and generate significant economic benefits. The double-headed Grand Départ is a testament to the strength of the partnership between the Tour and British Cycling, as well as the enthusiasm of the UK. The event will have long-lasting benefits, including inspiring people to get active and delivering a legacy that will be felt long after the event.
