Edinburgh to host Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027
The City of Edinburgh Council said the French capital reveal confirmed Edinburgh will stage the opening stage of the 2027 Tour de France on 2 July, the race's first ever visit to Scotland.
The City of Edinburgh Council said Edinburgh will host the start of the 2027 Tour de France on 2 July next year, after the route for the opening stage was officially unveiled in Paris.
The council said the 184km opening stage of the Grand Départ will take riders from Edinburgh through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, before continuing through Dumfries and Galloway to Carlisle. According to the council, this will mark the first time the Tour de France has visited Scotland, bringing one of the world’s biggest sporting events to the country.
The council said the Edinburgh leg of the route will begin at the Palace of Holyroodhouse before passing along the Royal Mile, North Bridge, Princes Street, The Mound, Lawnmarket, the Castle esplanade, Johnston Terrace, Castle Terrace, Lady Lawson Street, Grassmarket, Victoria Street, George IV Bridge, Chambers Street, South Bridge, Newington Road, Cameron Toll, Liberton Road and Gilmerton Road, before continuing on to Midlothian.
Council Leader Jane Meagher attended the official route reveal in Paris, alongside students from Portobello High School who have been taking part in the Girls Cycling Programme, the council said.
Meagher said: “Hosting the Grand Départ is a huge moment for Edinburgh and for Scotland. Our city has built a strong reputation for delivering major international events, and the Tour de France gives us another incredible opportunity to show the world what makes Edinburgh such a special place.”
She added that the event was about more than the race itself, saying the council wants people across communities to feel part of the occasion and benefit from the opportunities it brings, from celebrating the city internationally to inspiring more people to cycle. She said the Girls Cycling Programme showed how more young people, particularly girls, could build confidence through cycling.
Meagher said the priority ahead of next July was to make the event one that Edinburgh’s people could share in and feel proud of, while balancing the needs of visitors with those who live and work in the city year round.
The council said further details on community activities and preparations for the Grand Départ will be announced in the coming months.