\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/17cb6.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
From Friday to Sunday (2-4 July),\u00a0the Grand D\u00e9part of the Tour de France 2027\u00a0will visit\u00a0Scotland,\u00a0England\u00a0and\u00a0Wales\u00a0in just three stages. From the very first day of racing, the route will give full meaning to this historic start, the 28th\u00a0to take place outside of France, but the first to involve\u00a0three nations. The peloton will set off from\u00a0Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and cross the border to compete for the Yellow Jersey in\u00a0Carlisle. The second stage will take place entirely on English roads, between\u00a0Keswick\u00a0and\u00a0Liverpool, and the third will explore Wales from\u00a0Welshpool\u00a0to\u00a0Cardiff.<\/p>\n
The festivities will begin with the\u00a0teams presentation on Wednesday 30 June\u00a0at Edinburgh’s Old Castle. With more than\u00a0600 kilometres of racing\u00a0between the city of Chris Hoy, icon of Scottish cycling, and that of Geraint Thomas, the only Welsh winner of the Tour, the crossing of Great Britain promises wonders. It will also be intense, before more celebrations at the end of July for the Grand D\u00e9part of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2027.<\/p>\n
Across the countryside of Midlothian and Scottish Borders, the peloton will tackle the first\u00a0classified climb\u00a0in Scotland, in\u00a0Melrose. It shouldn’t bother the sprinters who dream of claiming the first Yellow Jersey, 13 years after Marcel Kittel’s victorious sprint in Harrogate, the last time the Grand D\u00e9part was held on British soil.\u00a0The fast men will be particularly wary of the final stretch and the finish in Carlisle, a regular stop on the Tour of Britain, which is about to make its grand entrance into Tour history.<\/p>\n
The route becomes\u00a0significantly more demanding for the 2nd\u00a0and 3rd\u00a0stages. On Saturday 3 July, after setting off from Keswick and visiting the Lake District National Park, attackers will try to take advantage of the\u00a0five categorised climbs\u00a0on the road to Liverpool. However, some sprinters may hope to survive… It will be much more difficult the next day.<\/p>\n
The start from Welshpool is not particularly difficult. But then there are\u00a0seven climbs\u00a0in quick succession, notably on the escarpments of a mining basin. The road will be long and increasingly difficult, especially on the\u00a0slopes of Caerphilly (2km at 8.1%), 12km from the finish, before heading to Cardiff for a finish near the\u00a0Principality Stadium. The Welsh rugby team is known for playing spectacular rugby there. Now it’s the cyclists’ turn to illuminate Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Alongside the route announcement, organisers also revealed\u00a0Joy, the\u00a0social impact programme\u00a0at the heart of the 2027 Grand D\u00e9part, that aims to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing, support communities to thrive, and to make Britain more productive and prosperous through cycling.<\/p>\n
Christian Prudhomme, Director, Tour de France (A.S.O.):<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the routes we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain\u2019s terrain. Bringing both Grands D\u00e9parts here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, UK government:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThese routes will reach places few other events can and give people another reason to be proud of where they live. All over the country, they\u2019ll see world-class cyclists pass through their towns, down their high streets and maybe even right past their front doors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Events like the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift bring communities together, boost local economies and inspire more people to discover the benefits of sport. We cannot wait to welcome these iconic races next year.<\/p>\n