Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes 2027's UK start unveiled, with fitting tribute to Geraint Thomas

It is still more than half a year until the start of the Tour de France of 2026, but organiser ASO has already revealed the opening stages of the next edition. The race will begin in Edinburgh, before heading through England and Wales. The British adventure concludes with a tribute to Geraint Thomas and an opportunity for the puncheurs.

In 2007, the Tour de France visited Great Britain for the first time, starting with a prologue in London, followed by a road stage to Canterbury. Now, 20 years later, the race returns to British soil, with Scotland hosting the Grand Départ.

It had been known for some time that the 2027 Tour de France would start in Edinburgh, but the full details of Le Grand Départ from the Scottish capital have now been confirmed. There will be no individual or team time trial, but instead a traditional road stage heading south towards Carlisle, crossing the English border. The riders will face 184 kilometres and around 2,000 metres of climbing. Despite that elevation gain, the profile suggests a stage that should still favour the sprinters.

The same appears true for stage two. The day begins in Keswick, located just south of Carlisle, the finish town of stage one. From the heart of Cumbria, the peloton will ride through the famous Lake District, offering spectacular scenery. The route is far from flat, however. Five categorised climbs feature on the course, mostly concentrated in the middle section of the stage.

The final summit comes 40 kilometres from the finish, by which point the riders will already have covered more than 180 kilometres. At 223 kilometres and 2,800 metres of elevation gain, this is a demanding day in the saddle. Still, the finale into Liverpool is relatively flat, suggesting another opportunity for the sprinters. Unless, of course, the attackers manage to make their move well before the finish.

In stage three, the fast men will have far less to look forward to. The start in Welshpool makes it immediately clear: this is Wales, the home country of Geraint Thomas. Once again, the riders face a 223-kilometre stage, but this one is significantly more difficult than the ride to Liverpool. The opening kilometres are relatively straightforward, but after around 80 kilometres the terrain becomes much tougher, with relentless hills.

A total of eight climbs feature on the route, six of them packed into the final 80 kilometres. The Caerphilly Mountain comes just 12.5 kilometres from the finish and is a particularly demanding ascent. This is a clear opportunity for the puncheurs and explosive attackers. The finish lies in Cardiff, the birthplace of Tour winner Thomas. A fitting tribute, and a beautiful conclusion to three days of racing in the United Kingdom.

Just like the men’s race, the women will also start in the United Kingdom. The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will begin in Leeds. Scotland and Wales are not included for the women, however. The opening stage runs from Leeds to Manchester, followed by a second stage from Manchester to Sheffield. The third and final stage on English soil finishes in London, although it remains unclear whether this will be a time trial.