Tour de France 2027: Men's and women's race to have opening stages in Britain with starts in Edinburgh and Leeds
The routes for the men's and women's Tour de France 2027 routes have been chosen with the men's starting in Edinburgh and the women's starting in Leeds; Stops in the routes include Liverpool, Carlisle, Cardiff, and Sheffield
Thursday 15 January 2026 19:56, UK
Riders in the men's and women's Tour de France will take in some eye-catching views in next year's race as they pedal through the hills and valleys of Britain.
The men's edition of the 2027 Tour begins in Edinburgh on July 2, with the opening stage passing through Midlothian and the Scottish borders before ending in Carlisle, outside the city's medieval castle.
The following day, an undulating second stage takes the peloton from Keswick in the heart of the Lake District's National Park before ending on The Strand in Liverpool.
A hilly third stage on July 4 takes place in Wales.
Starting from Welshpool in Powys, it snakes through the south Welsh valleys and features climbs up Côte de Rhigos and Côte de Caerffili in the closing stages before finishing in Cardiff.
It is the first time both Grand Départs, the cycling term for Tour race starts, have taken place in the same country, outside of France.
Britain has proved a very welcoming host in the past.
"The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain's terrain," Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme said.
"Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK."
The 2014 men's Tour began in the Yorkshire region of northern England and drew huge crowds, following on from the equally enthusiastic welcome when the 2007 Tour started in London.
The women's route: From Leeds to London
The women's 2027 Tour starts July 30 from the civic hall in Leeds, before crossing the Pennines to Manchester.
The next day riders go through the Peak District National Park and tackle the Snake Pass before crossing the line in Sheffield.
The women's peloton says au revoir to Britain after a Sunday showpiece third stage in London on August 1.
"Starting the Tour de France in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour," women's Tour director Marion Rousse said.
"These stages clearly reflect the race's ambition: to continue growing women's cycling and to inspire future generations."
Last year's men's race started in the French city of Lille, and Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar went on to win the overall title for the fourth time.
Olympic champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt of France won the women's race at the first attempt.
This year's men's race starts in Barcelona on July 4. The host of the 1992 Olympic Games previously hosted stages but never the start. This year's women's race begins in Lausanne, Switzerland.
