Tour de France to start in UK as cycling chiefs announce three stages ‘bigger than anyone can imagine’
BRITAIN will host the first three stages of the world’s most famous bike race.
The Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will both start in the UK in 2027, it has now been confirmed.
England, Scotland and Wales will all host stages of the men’s Tour de France, with millions set to line the streets to cheer on their heroes.
The men’s Tour will begin in Edinburgh before winding down into England and Wales.
The Scottish capital’s hills and cobbles will likely make for a tricky, technical opening stage, and one that might be suited to Dutch powerhouse Mathieu van der Poel.
Brit legend Mark Cavendish hailed the announcement, saying: ” I don’t think we can comprehend what the start to the Tour De France is going to be like here.
“It’s going to be bigger than anyone can imagine. It’s really quite exciting.”
Cav, 39, warned of the cobbled sections. He said: “If you could choose to go on a leisurely ride you’re probably not going to go over them but they make for a great bike race.
“They also make for a good aesthetic picture on television. That’s what the Tour does best, is show the beauty of a city and a country especially a historic town and that’s why Edinburgh fits quite perfectly into what the Tour is about.”
Though the full route is not due to be released until autumn, British Cycling have today confirmed that it will showcase “Britain’s diverse landscapes alongside the nation’s enthusiasm for cycling“.
Christian Prudhomme, General Director of the Tour de France, said: “Why Edinburgh? Because it’s a magical city. You are 20 minutes from the city centre and you’re in the middle of nowhere.”
He added: “Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop to the Tour. It’s geography, culture, pride. All these things are in the British bid.
“In 2014 [when the Tour was last held in the UK] it was like a corridor of sounds for the riders. It was impossible for them to hear anything because there were huge crowds everywhere.”
Wednesday’s announcement marks the first time the world’s most famous bike race has been held in the UK since 2014, starting with a flat stage beginning in Leeds and finishing in Harrogate.
The peloton ventured into the Peak District for stage two, with a brutal stage between York and Sheffield.
The third and final day in the UK was an easy one by Le Tour’s standards, heading south from Cambridge into London where Marcel Kittel claimed victory in a bunch sprint.
The Tour also started on British shores in 2007, with a short prologue in London preceding a route from the capital down to Canterbury.
Britain’s affiliation to Le Tour has really ramped up in recent years, thanks almost entirely to the dominance of Team Sky – now Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s INEOS Grenadiers – between 2012 and 2019.
Starting with Bradley Wiggins claiming the Yellow Jersey in 2012, British riders won six of the next seven Tours de France.
Following Wiggo’s remarkable victory later followed up with Olympic gold, Chris Froome won the Tour four times, and Geraint Thomas finished off a fine few years with victory in 2018.
Hosting both the men’s and women’s editions of the Tour will be a historic milestone for cycling, marking the first occasion both the men’s and women’s Grand Departs will take place in the same country outside of France.
Jon Dutton OBE, CEO of British Cycling, said: “Hosting both the men’s and women’s races together will be a first, and we believe it has the potential to inspire more people to discover the joy and benefits of cycling.
“This is not just about the race – it’s about creating a national moment that encourages healthier lifestyles, supports cycle tourism, and brings communities together.”
Tadej Pogacar won the 2024 edition of Le Tour, with the Slovenian dominating the sport alongside Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard in recent years.
Cavendish also wrote his name in the history books last year, breaking Eddy Merckx’s stage victory record by winning his 35th stage in the sleepy French village of Saint-Vulbas.