Edinburgh will host the start of the 2027 Tour de France on Friday 2 July, with the route for the historic opening stage from the Scottish capital to Carlisle officially unveiled in Paris.
The 184km opening stage of the Grand Départ will take riders from Edinburgh through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, before continuing through Dumfries and Galloway to Carlisle. It will mark the first time the Tour de France has visited Scotland, bringing one of the world’s biggest sporting events to the country.
The Edinburgh leg of the route will begin at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, then: Royal Mile – North Bridge – Princes Street – The Mound – Lawnmarket – Castle esplanade – Johnston Terrace – Castle Terrace – Lady Lawson Street – Grassmarket – Victoria Street – George IV Bridge – Chambers Street – South Bridge – Newington Road – Cameron Toll – Liberton Road – Gilmerton Road – then on to Midlothian.
Council leader Jane Meagher said: “Hosting the Grand Départ is a huge moment for Edinburgh and for Scotland. Our city has built a strong reputation for delivering major international events, and the Tour de France gives us another incredible opportunity to show the world what makes Edinburgh such a special place.
“But this is about more than the race itself. We want people across our communities to feel part of the occasion and to benefit from the opportunities it brings. From celebrating our city on the international stage to inspiring more people to get on their bikes, I’m confident the legacy of the Tour will go well beyond the opening day.
“We’ll be working with national active travel partners and local community organisations to create opportunities for people to get involved and discover how cycling can play a bigger part in their everyday lives. The Girls Cycling Programme is a great example of how we can help more young people, particularly girls, build confidence and enjoy the benefits of cycling.
“As we look ahead to next July, our priority is to make this a moment that Edinburgh’s people can share in and feel proud of, while striking the right balance between welcoming visitors and meeting the needs of those who live and work here all year round.”
The second stage of the Grand Départ takes place on Saturday 3 July, with riders tackling a 223km route from Keswick in the Lake District to Liverpool. The stage will pass through some of England’s most scenic countryside, including the Lake District National Park, Morecambe Bay coastline and Lancashire, with five categorised climbs before a city-centre finish on The Strand in Liverpool.
On Sunday 4 July, the third and final British stage will see the Tour de France visit Wales for the first time. The challenging 223km route from Welshpool to Cardiff will feature eight categorised climbs, including the steep Côte de Caerffili, before finishing in the Welsh capital. The route will take riders past landmarks including Cardiff Castle and the Principality Stadium, bringing the British leg of the race to a spectacular conclusion.
Tour de France 2027 route after the Grand Départ
Following three stages in Britain, the Tour de France 2027 will head across the Channel to France, where the remaining 18 stages will take place before the traditional finish in Paris on Sunday 25 July.
After a rest day on Monday 5 July, racing resumes on Tuesday 6 July with a 171km stage starting and finishing in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in Normandy.
The route then heads through Brittany and the Loire Valley, with the first individual time trial taking place between Blois and Chambord on Friday 9 July.
The first major mountain test comes on Sunday 11 July, with a summit finish at Grand Colombier in the Jura mountains. Two challenging Alpine stages follow on 13 and 14 July, including a finish at Les Saisies on Bastille Day.
After heading south towards Montpellier and through the Massif Central, the riders will tackle a second individual time trial in Toulouse on Tuesday 20 July.
The final mountain battles take place in the Pyrenees on 22 and 23 July, including a summit finish at Col du Portet.
The 114th Tour de France concludes on Sunday 25 July with a 116km final stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
In total, the 2027 race covers approximately 3,479km across 21 stages, including six mountain stages and two individual time trials.
Image: Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland (Marc Markstein/Unsplash)