Latest news with #TourdeFranceGrandDepart
Dubai Eye
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Tour de France to start in Edinburgh in 2027
The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 as the world's most famous cycling race returns to Britain for the fifth time. It will be the third time the race has started in Britain after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. Organisers also confirmed on Wednesday that the Tour de France Femmes will come to Britain in 2027, the first time both races have held stages in the same country outside of France. Further details on routes will be announced in the autumn, but the prospect of a stage on the cobblestones of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a mouth-watering one. Organisers also confirmed that the Tour's first three stages will be in Scotland, England and Wales. "Why Edinburgh? Because it's a magical city," the Tour's General Director Christian Prudhomme told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday. "In the Tour de France and all cycling races, what is very important is the helicopter shots. "Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop." The Tour first came to Britain in 1974 when Plymouth hosted a stage and it returned 20 years later in Dover to celebrate the opening of the Channel Tunnel. London staged the Grand Depart in 2007 and in 2014 massive crowds perched on the Yorkshire hills as the race began in brutal and spectacular fashion. "It was a wall of people, it was massive," Prudhomme said. The opening stage in 2014 ended in Harrogate where home favourite Mark Cavendish crashed badly, ruling him out of the rest of the race. Despite that disappointment, Cavendish said starting a Tour in Britain was unforgettable. "I did two British Grand Departs. The first one was my first ever Tour of France and for many years that was the greatest Grand Depart any rider of our generation could remember," sprinting great Cavendish, who won a record 35 Tour stages, told reporters. "It was four, five people deep the whole way from London to Canterbury. Then we went to Yorkshire in 2014 and that was something else, wasn't it." The return of the Tour to Britain and the first staging of the Tour de France Femmes in the country was a collaboration between Tour owners ASO, British Cycling, UK Sport and the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. Jon Dutton, CEO of British Cycling, said it represents an exciting moment for cycling in the UK. "Hosting both the men's and women's races together will be a first, and we believe it has the potential to inspire more people to discover the joy and benefits of cycling," he said. Glasgow hosted the inaugural combined UCI World Cycling Championships in 2023, contributing an estimated £205 million (AED976.5 million) to the local economy, according to the UCI. Last year's Tour Grand Depart took place in Florence, Italy, with the 2026 race scheduled to start in Spain in Barcelona.
ARN News Center
20-03-2025
- Sport
- ARN News Center
Tour de France to start in Edinburgh in 2027
The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 as the world's most famous cycling race returns to Britain for the fifth time. It will be the third time the race has started in Britain after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. Organisers also confirmed on Wednesday that the Tour de France Femmes will come to Britain in 2027, the first time both races have held stages in the same country outside of France. Further details on routes will be announced in the autumn, but the prospect of a stage on the cobblestones of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a mouth-watering one. Organisers also confirmed that the Tour's first three stages will be in Scotland, England and Wales. "Why Edinburgh? Because it's a magical city," the Tour's General Director Christian Prudhomme told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday. "In the Tour de France and all cycling races, what is very important is the helicopter shots. "Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop." The Tour first came to Britain in 1974 when Plymouth hosted a stage and it returned 20 years later in Dover to celebrate the opening of the Channel Tunnel. London staged the Grand Depart in 2007 and in 2014 massive crowds perched on the Yorkshire hills as the race began in brutal and spectacular fashion. "It was a wall of people, it was massive," Prudhomme said. The opening stage in 2014 ended in Harrogate where home favourite Mark Cavendish crashed badly, ruling him out of the rest of the race. Despite that disappointment, Cavendish said starting a Tour in Britain was unforgettable. "I did two British Grand Departs. The first one was my first ever Tour of France and for many years that was the greatest Grand Depart any rider of our generation could remember," sprinting great Cavendish, who won a record 35 Tour stages, told reporters. "It was four, five people deep the whole way from London to Canterbury. Then we went to Yorkshire in 2014 and that was something else, wasn't it." The return of the Tour to Britain and the first staging of the Tour de France Femmes in the country was a collaboration between Tour owners ASO, British Cycling, UK Sport and the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. Jon Dutton, CEO of British Cycling, said it represents an exciting moment for cycling in the UK. "Hosting both the men's and women's races together will be a first, and we believe it has the potential to inspire more people to discover the joy and benefits of cycling," he said. Glasgow hosted the inaugural combined UCI World Cycling Championships in 2023, contributing an estimated £205 million (AED976.5 million) to the local economy, according to the UCI.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scotland launches Tour de France for first time in 2027
The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 as the world's most famous cycling race returns to Britain for the fifth time. It will be the third time the race has started in Britain after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014, and the first time it's been launched from Scotland. Organisers also confirmed on Wednesday that the Tour de France Femmes will come to Britain in 2027, the first time both races have held stages in the same country outside of France. 🔥🔥🔥 You can feel the excitement of @MarkCavendish! It will be a great Grand Départ! 🔥🔥🔥 Le Grand Départ du #TDF2027 à Edimbourg sera un moment exceptionnel, c'est @MarkCavendish qui vous le dit ! — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) March 19, 2025 Further details on routes will be announced in the autumn, but the prospect of a stage on the cobblestones of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a mouth-watering one. Organisers also confirmed the Tour's first three stages will be in Scotland, England and Wales. "Why Edinburgh? Because it's a magical city," the Tour's General Director Christian Prudhomme told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday. "In the Tour de France and all cycling races, what is very important is the helicopter shots. "Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop." The Tour first came to Britain in 1974 when Plymouth hosted a stage and it returned 20 years later in Dover to celebrate the opening of the Channel Tunnel. London staged the Grand Depart in 2007 and in 2014 massive crowds perched on the Yorkshire hills as the race began in brutal and spectacular fashion. "It was a wall of people, it was massive," Prudhomme said. The opening stage in 2014 ended in Harrogate where home favourite Mark Cavendish crashed badly, ruling him out of the rest of the race. Despite that disappointment, Cavendish said starting a Tour in Britain was unforgettable. "I did two British Grand Departs. The first one was my first ever Tour of France and for many years that was the greatest Grand Depart any rider of our generation could remember," sprinting great Cavendish, who won a record 35 Tour stages, told reporters. "It was four, five people deep the whole way from London to Canterbury. Then we went to Yorkshire in 2014 and that was something else, wasn't it." Last year's Tour Grand Depart took place in Florence, Italy, with the 2026 race scheduled to start in Spain in Barcelona.
Reuters
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Tour de France to start in Edinburgh in 2027
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 as the world's most famous cycling race returns to Britain for the fifth time. It will be the third time the race has started in Britain after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. Organisers also confirmed on Wednesday that the Tour de France Femmes will come to Britain in 2027, the first time both races have held stages in the same country outside of France. Further details on routes will be announced in the autumn, but the prospect of a stage on the cobblestones of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a mouth-watering one. Organisers also confirmed that the Tour's first three stages will be in Scotland, England and Wales. "Why Edinburgh? Because it's a magical city," the Tour's General Director Christian Prudhomme told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday. "In the Tour de France and all cycling races, what is very important is the helicopter shots. "Edinburgh and Scotland will offer a magnificent backdrop." The Tour first came to Britain in 1974 when Plymouth hosted a stage and it returned 20 years later in Dover to celebrate the opening of the Channel Tunnel. London staged the Grand Depart in 2007 and in 2014 massive crowds perched on the Yorkshire hills as the race began in brutal and spectacular fashion. "It was a wall of people, it was massive," Prudhomme said. The opening stage in 2014 ended in Harrogate where home favourite Mark Cavendish crashed badly, ruling him out of the rest of the race. Despite that disappointment, Cavendish said starting a Tour in Britain was unforgettable. "I did two British Grand Departs. The first one was my first ever Tour of France and for many years that was the greatest Grand Depart any rider of our generation could remember," sprinting great Cavendish, who won a record 35 Tour stages, told reporters. "It was four, five people deep the whole way from London to Canterbury. Then we went to Yorkshire in 2014 and that was something else, wasn't it." The return of the Tour to Britain and the first staging of the Tour de France Femmes in the country was a collaboration between Tour owners ASO, British Cycling, UK Sport and the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. Jon Dutton, CEO of British Cycling, said it represents an exciting moment for cycling in the UK. "Hosting both the men's and women's races together will be a first, and we believe it has the potential to inspire more people to discover the joy and benefits of cycling," he said. Glasgow hosted the inaugural combined UCI World Cycling Championships in 2023, contributing an estimated 205 million pounds ($265.89 million) to the local economy, according to the UCI. Last year's Tour Grand Depart took place in Florence, Italy, with the 2026 race scheduled to start in Spain in Barcelona.
The Independent
19-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes to start in the UK in 2027
The UK will host the official start of both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes in 2027, marking the first time both the men's and women's races will begin in the same country outside France. Edinburgh will be a first-time host of the men's Grand Depart, with cycling's biggest race set to return to UK shores for the first time since the 2014 edition. The city previously bid to host the Tour in 2014 but lost out to a rival offer by Yorkshire. England, Scotland and Wales are all set to host stages for the 2027 edition, with Scotland and Wales both first-time hosts. It will mark just the third time the Tour de France Grand Depart will be held in the UK, after London hosted the opening stage in 2007 and Leeds in 2014. For the women's race, which was inaugurated in 2022, it will be only its second foreign Grand Depart after Rotterdam hosted last year. Christian Prudhomme, the general director of the Tour de France, said: 'The Tour de France and the UK share a rich history, and I am delighted to bring the Grand Départ to the country in 2027. Britain has always welcomed the Tour with enthusiasm and pride, and this collaboration across England, Scotland, and Wales promises to make the event even more special.' The planned routes for both Grand Departs will be revealed in the autumn. John Dutton, British Cycling's chief executive, added: 'The return of the Tour de France Grand Depart to Britain is an exciting moment for cycling in the UK. Hosting both the men's and women's races together will be a first, and we believe it has the potential to inspire more people to discover the joy and benefits of cycling. This is not just about the race – it's about creating a national moment that encourages healthier lifestyles, supports cycle tourism, and brings communities together.' The 2014 route travelled from Leeds to Harrogate on the first day, with a second stage from York to Sheffield and a final run from Cambridge to London before the transfer to France. The Tour often crosses over into neighbouring countries during the race and frequently starts abroad, with the 2023 edition beginning in Bilbao, the 2024 race starting in Florence, and next year's to start in Barcelona, followed by two stages beginning in Tarragona and Granollers. Since the 2014 edition the UK has made repeated overtures to the race organisers ASO to host again, with a bid announced in 2021 aiming for a 2026 start spanning England, Scotland and Wales. That bid was later shelved, while an Irish bid to host in either 2026 or 2027 similarly collapsed last year. Scotland Cycling also threw its hat into the ring after successfully hosting a blockbuster World Championships in 2023, which saw 13 disciplines contested simultaneously for the first time and Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling hosting the road and time-trial events. The 2014 Yorkshire Grand Depart was hugely successful, generating over £100m of revenue in the county alone, and saw 4.8 million spectators turn out at the roadside. The bid capitalised on a wave of enthusiasm for British cycling, inspired by Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome 's Tour de France victories in 2012 and 2013 and the dominance of British outfit Team Sky. Since then the landscape of the sport has changed enormously, with many major UK road races - including the Tour of Yorkshire and RideLondon - disappearing over the past few years thanks to soaring costs. Sky – rebranded as Ineos Grenadiers after 2019 – have struggled to keep pace with state-sponsored outfits like UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Dutch juggernaut Visma-Lease a Bike, and have seen their grip on the Tour de France fall by the wayside. But 2025 has seen an uptick in performance and results for the squad, while the number of British riders in the pro peloton has continued to grow. Oscar Onley, born in Kelso, is among a promising bunch who could compete for a Tour de France stage win – made extra special by being on home roads.
