Every year, the legendary Tour de France takes off from a different city. This year, its ‘Grande Départ’ was in Lille, in 2024 it started in Florence, the year before that it began in Bilbao and before that it set off from Copenhagen.
The last time that the race graced UK shores was more than a decade ago in 2014, with riders zooming from Yorkshire to London. But now it’s been confirmed that, in a couple of years, it’ll be back. In 2027, the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (the women’s event) will commence in Edinburgh for the very first time.
In a special meeting this week, Edinburgh city councillors agreed to put £1.7m aside for the occasion. As well as getting to witness the world’s biggest bike race in person, city locals will benefit from the deal, with free bikes for children and cycling lessons for young people both promised.
Margaret Arma Graham, City of Edinburgh council's culture and communities committee convener, said: ‘I'm very glad that there's going to be such an emphasis on a sporting event in the city, sometimes these are not always a high priority.’ She added: ‘Cycling in general will get a boost from something so famous coming here.’
The Tour de France also sped through Britain in 1974, 1994 and 2007, but this’ll be the first time that the race stops by Scotland and the first time that the women’s race has been beyond mainland Europe. Rest assured, though – Edinburgh knows how to host a cycling event. It was the home of the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023, which had a turnout of more than one million spectators over 11 days.
Details on the rest of the route through Scotland, Wales and England (before cyclists make their way to France) will be released later this autumn.
Christian Prudhomme, general director of the Tour de France, said: ‘The Tour de France and the UK share a rich history, and I am delighted to bring the Grand Départ to the country in 2027. Britain has always welcomed the Tour with enthusiasm and pride, and this collaboration across England, Scotland, and Wales promises to make the event even more special.’
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