For the primary time in 13 years, the boys’s Tour de France will return to British shores in 2027, with the ladies’s equal, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, following swimsuit a couple of weeks later for the primary time.
Particulars are skinny on the bottom for the time being, particularly for the Tour de France Femmes, however we all know that the Tour de France will come to Scotland, England and Wales for 3 phases in June or July 2027, and the Femmes may also have three phases within the UK, bringing tens of millions of individuals out to the roadside, and getting a number of the finest bike riders on the earth on our roads. Hopefully, there will likely be a couple of potholes mounted within the course of, too.
Nonetheless, there are numerous questions that we will reply, 27 months out, so listed below are a few of these.
What’s a Grand Départ?
Wonderful query to start out off with. A Grand Départ – that is primarily large begin for these of you with out French – is the start of the race, which takes place in a selected area. That could possibly be in France, however more and more in current 12 months, the opening stgaes of the boys’s and girls’s Excursions have taken place overseas. This 12 months, the Tour de France begins in Lille and the Tour de France Femmes in Brittany, to offer you a flavour.
The boys’s Grand Départ is often three of the 21 phases, so these will occur within the UK earlier than the race heads again to France, whereas the shorter ladies’s race may need two or three phases on overseas soil.
These phases nonetheless depend for the general race, although. Do not assume they’re only a advertising and marketing stunt – if a rider loses time within the UK, it’s going to impression them on the very finish. In 2014, Vincenzo Nibali claimed the race lead on stage two in Sheffield, and went on to win the race three weeks later. Each second counts.
After we will know extra?
The autumn has been pinpointed as once we can anticipate finding out extra concerning the routes for each the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, however this could be little greater than the stage begins and finishes, and likewise key factors of the race. The fleshed-out route for subsequent summer season’s Grand Départ in Barcelona was introduced this February, so we will anticipate related timings.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
An much more actual route, with particulars of roads, stage distances and actual timings, will not get launched till the months earlier than the Tour in 2027. So when you dwell in Edinburgh and need to discover out whether or not your highway will likely be closed, it is going to be some time but.
Will it’s free to observe?
A spot by the aspect of the highway prices nothing – however requires an early arrival
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Until one thing drastically adjustments within the subsequent two years, altering all {of professional} biking’s historical past, watching the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes on the roadside will very a lot be free.
There will likely be ticketed areas, with VIP sections firstly and end of every stage, however apart from that, you are free to roam the place you want, and get as near the motion as you dare. Do not get too shut, although, in any other case you possibly can find yourself being concerned within the motion, which isn’t one thing anybody needs. Do not danger it all of it for that excellent selfie.
If the climate is nice, count on scenes like these when the Tour de France began in Yorkshire in 2014, with folks crowded on each little bit of grass doable. If the climate is not so good – it is the UK in spite of everything – it should not put too many off, because the sodden Glasgow World Championships confirmed.
There’s a large however, although. As issues stand, the Tour de France or the Tour de France Femmes is not going to be proven dwell on free-to-air tv in 2027 within the UK, with 2025 the final 12 months that ITV has the rights to the boys’s race. Warner Bros. Discovery have the rights, and if issues proceed as they’re for the time being, it is going to be on TNT Sports activities, with solely highlights free.
Nonetheless, on the press occasion launching the Grands Départ, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme mentioned that he was “optimistic” that the British bits of each races, not less than, could be on free-to-air tv in two years time.
The place ought to I watch?
With out figuring out the total extent of the route, it is tough to say, however it relies upon what you need to see. It could be doable to see the beginning and a part of the stage, or a part of the stage and the end, however hardly ever all three. Your finest wager, if you wish to see motion, is to stake your house on a climb, however finishes are all the time nice too. If you wish to nab your self a discarded water bottle – a well-liked memento – be sure you stand by a feed zone.
How shut can I get?
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Effectively, I suppose, as shut as you dare, though you’re going to get a stern phrase from a marshal or a police officer when you get too shut. Finishes have obstacles to cease folks getting too shut, whereas when you’re fortunate, you would possibly be capable of have a wander across the workforce buses.
Which roads will likely be closed?
Nigh on unattainable to say for the time being, however the Tour de France is a large logistical feat, so there will likely be roads closed for the race itself – which might open up fairly shortly – however then some locations will likely be closed all day.
Who’s going to be there?
One of the best riders on the earth will likely be on the beginning line
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes are the largest bike races on the earth, so count on biking’s largest stars to be there. For individuals who have not tuned in a lot since 2012, for the time being on the boys’s aspect we’re speaking Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. For the Femmes, the largest names at present are Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky, Kasia Niewiadoma, Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Longo Borghini. Nonetheless, we’re two years away from the race, so there’s time for riders to emerge, or for others to fade.
Riders like Pogačar, Vingegaard, Vollering and Niewiadoma will likely be seeking to win the race general, whereas others will likely be seeking to win phases.
Which British riders ought to we glance out for?
I am afraid we’re a good distance from the times of Bradley Wiggins, and Mark Cavendish has retired now. By the point the 2027 Excursions come round, Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and Lizzie Deignan can have hung up their wheels too.
High British feminine riders for the time being embrace Pfeiffer Georgi, Anna Henderson, Cat Ferguson – who will solely be 21 by the point the 2027 Tour rolls round – and Zoe Bäckstedt. There are different thrilling younger riders to be careful for, like Carys Lloyd and Imogen Wolff.
In the meantime, for the boys, riders to observe embrace Tom Pidcock, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Adam and Simon Yates, and Fred Wright, though there are masses extra, and younger riders like Joe Blackmore and Callum Thornley might properly have blossomed by 2027.
When ought to I begin reserving lodging?
I would maintain off for the time being, seeing as we do not know actual dates or areas, past Edinburgh for the beginning of the boys’s Tour de France. The sooner the higher for any of it, although, as soon as we all know extra. As a veteran of Tour de France lodge bookings, I can inform you that it’s essential be on it.
Will the caravan be there? Can I get free stuff?
Followers can count on to see the caravan flash by
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
You may assure that wherever the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes goes, the publicity caravan will likely be there. I do not imply a typical caravan, however as an alternative the promoting floats that precede the race, displaying off their wares to the world, and likewise, crucially, throwing out free stuff – a few of which is nice, and a few of which is tat. For the time being, these embrace merchandise like Orangina, Haribo and Skoda, however the sponsors are all the time shifting round. At a overseas Grand Départ, the caravan is often there, however could be a bit shriveled, because of logistics.
