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James Speakman\/PA Media Assignments<\/p>\nManchester is set to welcome some of the world\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Manchester hosts the finish of the iconic women\u2019s cycling race on Fri 30 Jul 2027, as well as being the start of stage two the following day.<\/p>\n
The start and finish for the first-ever visit of the women\u2019s race to Britain were revealed alongside the route for the men\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
James Speakman\/PA Media Assignments<\/p>\n
Next year marks the first time both Grand D\u00e9parts, for the men\u2019s and the women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Alongside today\u2019s 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 D\u00e9parts. 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.<\/p>\n
British Cycling will look to recruit more than 7,000 volunteers for the Grand D\u00e9parts, 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.<\/p>\n
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills Employment and Leisure,\u00a0 Manchester City Council, said: \u201cManchester has a decades-long association with cycling and with women\u2019s sport, and championing women and girls to participate in and enjoy sports \u2013 including cycling \u2013 at all levels from entry through to elite, is really important to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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\u2019s best women cyclists in action here on our streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n