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Follow us on GoogleThe route of the 2027 Tour de France is out, and on July 2 the riders will line up in Edinburgh, with 21 jam-packed days of racing ahead of them. If Pinarello Q36.5 line up at the start of the Tour with Tom Pidcock as leader, here's how the Brit could make the route, which features 71 kilometres of time trial, work for him.
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Read below the photo!
How could Pidcock use the Tour route to his advantage?
2027 Tour de France Grand Départ will suit Pidcock
Pidcock was born in Leeds, where the women's race will start on July 30. The men will start a little less close to home for the Yorkshireman, but he will still be bolstered by home crowds. The first three stages will take place in Great Britain.
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The first two stages are likely to be won by a sprinter, so Pidcock is unlikely to capitalise, but the third stage; from Welshpool to Cardiff, could be his first opportunity in the race.
Read more below the stage details!
Stage 3 could see Pidcock come into his own
In the final stretch of the 223-kilometre stage to Cardiff, the bunch must tackle Hengoed (700 meters at 11 percent) and Caerphilly (2 kilometres at 8.1 percent). This is followed by another thirteen kilometres of flat terrain.
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Pidcock, who is British, could be helped along by the home crowds
It's one for the more punchy riders, but Pidcock, with the home crowd behind him, could enjoy the climbs. The 27-year-old stuck with Pogačar on the climbs off Milano-San Remo, so there's a small possiblity he could take the yellow jersey on this final British stage.
Not a tour built for pure climbers, but Pidcock could deliver
It is certainly not the most mountainous edition of the Tour de France, with 71 kilometres of time trial between Edinburgh and Paris.
Read more below the photo!
Pidcock could work on his time trialling before the Tour de France
Pidcock is not typically suited to stages against the clock, so will most likely looking to minimise his losses on the two individual time trials on stages 7 and 16 respectively.
However, last year, he performed strongly in the Tour's single individual time trial, and could focus on the discipline over the winter if he chose to target this year's Tour.
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Opportunities in the mountain stages
Pidcock has won just one stage of the Tour de France in his career, but that he did with style. In 2022, he won on Alpe d'Huez in a stunning fashion, with world-class descending skills, and a punchy, brave attack.
The Brit could have the chance to showcase himself again on Stage 9, which sees the stage finish atop the Grand Colombier following a descent of Col de Richemond.
Could the Brit take the Queen stage?
Stage 18 of the Tour de France will be a monstrous day in the saddle for the bunch.
With 5,400 metres of elevation gain and climbs up the Tourmalet and the Col du Portet, it could see an attacking climber like Pidcock win.
He will have stiff competition if he chooses to attack, but he has shown before that he can hold his own in the mountains.
Technical final climb could be his last chance at a stage victory
Despite contradictory accounts, the Tour de France will finish with a lap of Montmartre.
Pidcock has not won on this climb before, but the snappy, technical route seems like one the Brit would enjoy. He is a proficient bike handler, and came 13th in the Olympic course that followed the same route.
If he still has the legs, it is not impossible that he could win after an attack on Montmartre.
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Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still figuring out how time trials affect the overall race. If Evenepoel gains time there, will Pogačar have enough mountain stages left to make it back? The route sounds exciting, but I’m not sure how much difference 71km makes.davidm22-10-2026
- Two 223km stages in the opening week could make for a proper nervous start. Those narrow British roads and potholes might have the GC favourites watching every corner.jennifer1922-10-2026
- That Pau–Portet stage sounds absolutely savage: Tourmalet, Soulor, Hourquette d’Ancizan and then the Portet. Vingegaard should suit those long climbs, though Pogačar is hardly easy to shake.julien22-10-2026
- Seventy-one kilometres against the clock gives Evenepoel a real chance to put pressure on Pogačar, but those Pyrenean stages look brutal. Could be a cracking final week if the time gaps stay close.sprocketspiny22-10-2026
- Not sure we can call this a perfect Evenepoel route before we’ve seen the start list. Plenty of time-trialling, yes, but those Pyrenees stages look absolutely savage. Could be a great Tour, though.julien22-10-2026
- I’m still learning the route—does a time trial mean every rider starts separately, and the fastest time wins the stage? Either way, 38km sounds like a long time to be racing alone!breakawaybikerd22-10-2026
- Montmartre again! Three ascents, with the last one 10km from the line, could make the finale far less predictable than a straightforward bunch sprint. Can’t wait.pedalpowe2922-10-2026
- The July 14 stage looks savage: 4,750 metres in just 150km is a proper day in the mountains. Skipping the biggest Alpine giants but finishing at Les Saisies should make for an interesting tactical race.velodromevirtuoso122-10-2026
- Seventy-one kilometres against the clock and only three summit finishes—Remco will be circling this one. But that Portet stage is brutal enough to undo a lot of damage in a hurry.davidm22-10-2026
- TotalEnergies’ sponsor situation makes this whole race for an invitation feel a bit academic unless they can secure funding. Hope they get it sorted—I’d love to see more teams get a crack at the Tour.cadencekingm21-10-2026
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