Cycling’s premier event Le Tour de France will see the men’s and women’s races for the 2027 edition begin in Great Britain, with Edinburgh to host the men’s Grand Depart according to an announcement by the tour’s organisers.
Scotland, Wales and England will all host a stage in each of both events, with route details and the Grand Depart for the Tour de France Femmes to be announced in the autumn. This will mark the first time that both the men’s and women’s events have come to the same nation outside France in the same year.
The UK, Scottish and Welsh governments have been key partners in the arrangement, along with British Cycling and UK Sport.
Organisers also revealed the staging in Britain will deliver long-lasting benefits for thousands of people by tackling inactivity, improving mental wellbeing, boosting economic growth and supporting communities to thrive. They add it will help inspire a new generation of cycling fans and riders while boosting cycle tourism.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “It is a tremendous honour to welcome the Tour de France to Scotland. We know it is one of the most iconic and inspiring contests in sport, and that Scotland provides the perfect stage for major events.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “Staging the Tour de France Femmes for the first time will be an historic occasion and inspire the next generation of female cyclists while supporting our mission of breaking down barriers for women and girls to get more involved in sport.”
General director of the men’s Tour de France Christian Prudhomme described Edinburgh as a magical city. He said: “In the Tour de France, what is very important is the helicopter shots. So Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop.”
Tour de France men’s event has been partly staged in Great Britain four times before: in 1974, 1994, 2007 and 2014. Last year’s Grand Depart took place in Florence, Italy with the 2026 race starting in Barcelona, Spain.
The women’s version, named Tour de France Femmes, was launched in 2022. The 2024 edition had its first Grand Depart outside France, with Rotterdam in the Netherlands being the host city.