After 13 years away, the iconic Tour de France will be passing through the United Kingdom next year – but will it stop in your town?
The full routes were revealed for the men’s and women’s races through Scotland, England, and Wales on Thursday, with the races to run through 10 cities in the United Kingdom, starting in Edinburgh on July 2 with the men’s event.
It will then head to Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool, and Welshpool, and finish up in Cardiff. The women’s race will start in Leeds on July 30, before crossing the Pennines to Manchester, then Sheffield, and concluding with a showpiece stage in London.
It has been billed as the largest free sporting spectacle in British history, and all 10 start and finish venues were lit up simultaneously on Thursday, with a yellow beam lighting up the sky.
Iconic venues crossed during the men’s race include Leeds Civic Hall, the castles of Edinburgh, Cardiff and Powis and the iconic Liverpool waterfront. The lighting of the venues was dubbed a ‘Tour de Skies’ moment.
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, said of the news: ‘The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain.
The Tour de France will head to Britain for the first time since 2014 next year – but will is pass through your town? Pictured: Powis Castle
10 iconic venues that will play host to the race in the UK were lit up on Thursday evening
The Tour last came to the UK in 2014 – pictures, stage one in Yorkshire, July 2014
‘Bringing both Grand Departs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.’
Marion Rousse, director of the women’s Tour de France added: ‘The United Kingdom has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Armitstead-Deignan.
‘Starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour.
‘These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.’
The last time the race – and Grand Depart – took place in Britain was in 2014 and came after Tour wins by Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome. An estimated 3.5million spectators took to the streets and Jon Dutton, chief executive of British Cycling, expected that number to hit 10million next year.
It also marks the first time the Grand Depart will be in Scotland, and the first time the Tour will visit Wales.
