Manchester is set to welcome some of the world’s best cyclists next year, after the city was confirmed as a key start and finish destination for the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Manchester hosts the finish of the iconic women’s cycling race on Fri 30 Jul 2027, as well as being the start of stage two the following day.
The start and finish for the first-ever visit of the women’s race to Britain were revealed alongside the route for the men’s race, which starts in Edinburgh a few weeks earlier on Fri 2 Jul 2027. To coincide with the announcement, host towns and cities were illuminated simultaneously with yellow beams of light.
Next year marks the first time both Grand Départs, for the men’s and the women’s race, will begin in the United Kingdom, and the first time they have taken place in the same country outside of France. With millions of spectators expected, it will become one of the largest free-to-watch sporting events in UK history.
Alongside today’s route announcement, organisers also revealed first details of Joy, a social impact programme that will embed community impact at the heart of the 2027 Grand Départs. Joy will see six core programmes rolled out across the home nations with organisers working collaboratively with local councils, community representatives, delivery partners and governments to create opportunities for young people to develop their skills, break down barriers for girls in sport, and to showcase community culture.
British Cycling will look to recruit more than 7,000 volunteers for the Grand Départs, inviting people across the UK to play a hands-on role in delivering the event. Thousands of opportunities will be available across route operations, spectator support and community engagement, offering people of all ages the chance to be part of Tour history, with more details to be announced when the programme is launched in the spring.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills Employment and Leisure, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester has a decades-long association with cycling and with women’s sport, and championing women and girls to participate in and enjoy sports – including cycling – at all levels from entry through to elite, is really important to us.
“Our year as European Capital of Cycling in 2024 showed us just how much cycling means to people in the city and to have both a stage finish and start of the prestigious Tour de France Femmes in Manchester provides an unrivalled opportunity to see the world’s best women cyclists in action here on our streets.
“We’ll be going all out to ensure the success of the stages that pass through the city and to maximise the opportunities it presents for local people and businesses to get involved and support the event.”
To find out more information and keep up-to-date with the 2027 Grand Départs, please visit letourGB.com
Featured image credit: James Speakman/PA Media Assignments
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Thu 15 Jan 2026
