Thursday, January 15, 2026
“At least 10 million people” are expected to line Britain’s roads next year when the UK hosts the opening stages to both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes. Organisers say the joint grands départs – the first to take place in the same country outside of France – will constitute “the largest free-to-watch sporting event in UK history.”
Representatives from the Tour de France, British Cycling and the organising committee Grand Départ GB 2027 held a joint press conference in Leeds on Thursday where they unveiled for the first time the start and finish locations for the three UK stages of each race.
The men’s Tour will begin in Edinburgh on Friday July 2 2027, with an opening stage to Carlisle via the Scottish Borders.
Stage two on Saturday July 3 will be from Keswick to Liverpool, taking in the Lake District National Park, the Morecambe Bay coastline, the Lancashire fells, plus a further four categorised climbs on the edge of the Pennines before the stage finish on The Strand.
Stage three on Sunday July 4 will take place solely in Wales, with a challenging leg south from Welshpool in Powys to the finish in Cardiff.