Tour de France Femmes UK Stage Routes Unveiled

The United Kingdom will debut as a host for the women’s Tour de France for the first time, with the 2027 edition’s three stages set to showcase challenging terrain. The selected routes, including a 154-kilometer second stage from Manchester to Sheffield, feature nearly 3,000 meters of elevation gain and the iconic Winnats Pass in the Peak District. Organizers of the event, ASO, have labeled this stage as “one of the hardest Grand Depart stages we’ve ever seen before.”

Highlight Stages and Unique Features

The race will also traverse from Leeds to Manchester over 85.7 kilometers, likely ending in a sprint finish. A third stage, an 18-kilometer team time trial on London’s Pall Mall, marks the first such event for the women’s competition. The exact route for the time trial will be announced in October.

“Having the Tour de France Femmes Avec Swift so close to home feels like a full circle moment for me,” said Cat Ferguson, an English rider for Movistar, born in Skipton, Yorkshire. “I watched the men’s Grand Depart in Yorkshire back in 2014 from the side of my home roads as a young kid, and now I hope to line up and race in the peloton next year.”

Ferguson, 19, added that the stages would be “super brutal,” emphasizing that the second stage’s relentless up-and-down nature could significantly alter the race’s outcome. “The GC leaders can lose a lot,” she noted.

UK Hosting Both Men’s and Women’s Tours

The opening three stages of the men’s Tour de France (starting 2 July) and the women’s edition (starting 30 July) will take place across Britain, making it the first time both races share the same host country outside France. The men’s race previously visited the UK in 1974, 1994, 2007, and 2014, when an estimated 4.8 million spectators gathered along the route.

The government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) described the event as “the most accessible major sporting spectacle ever held in Britain.” With the Grand Departs passing within an hour’s drive of 60% of the population, free viewing along over 900 kilometers of public roads is expected.

Historical Context and Growing Momentum

The 2014 men’s race followed the first victories by British riders in the Tour, including Bradley Wiggins (2012) and Chris Froome (2013), both representing Team Sky. This year’s event builds on that legacy, with the UCI World Tour now featuring a record 49 British cyclists—male and female—many of whom are poised to compete for top honors.

Despite the challenges, the UK’s hosting of six stages in total (three for the men’s race in 2014 and three for the women’s in 2027) is unprecedented. Organizers highlighted the event’s global reach, with the men’s Tour drawing a billion viewing hours across 190 countries. The success of the 2014 UK stages, which produced Wiggins, Froome, Geraint Thomas, Mark Cavendish, and Lizzie Deignan, has fueled the rise in popularity of cycling worldwide.

Participation and Cost Implications

The announcement was accompanied by a participation initiative, JOY, which involved seven young girls. This program aims to boost physical activity and mental health in the UK. Hosting these stages, however, comes with a hefty price tag. Costs exceed £50 million, largely covered by central government and local authorities, due to the high expenses of policing closed public roads during high-speed events. The race features a convoy of around 40 cars and as many motorbikes, adding to the logistical demands.

Riders and event leaders emphasized the importance of the UK’s role in the sport’s growth, with race director Marion Rousse stating, “The United Kingdom has already shown its passion for the Tour. These stages will once again highlight the energy of the crowds, the beauty of the landscapes, and the rising prominence of women’s cycling on the global stage.”