Grand Départ route will put Leeds communities in sporting spotlight

The city was confirmed in January as the host location for the start of stage one of the first ever visit to Britain by the world’s biggest women’s professional cycle race.

And, in a major follow-up announcement today, organisers have now given people in Leeds an overview of the route that will be used for the event on July 30 next year.

From a starting point on the Headrow, riders will undertake a partial loop of the city centre before striking out bound for Headingley. After passing Headingley Stadium, they will travel down to Kirkstall and then towards Bramley.

From there, they will go south via Gamble Hill and Farnley before heading west to Drighlington and, ultimately, crossing into Kirklees and over the Pennines to Manchester.

Full details of the roads involved – together with information on temporary closures and traffic restrictions – will be announced in due course, with a wide-reaching programme of engagement with local residents and businesses set to get under way this summer.

People can also receive Leeds-specific updates on how the day will work by joining a dedicated mailing list via the Visit Leeds website.

Next year’s event will make Leeds the first place outside mainland Europe to host the start of stage one of a Grand Départ for both the men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Around 230,000 people packed into the city centre to cheer the riders on their way during the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014, with another two million spectators lining the rest of the race’s Yorkshire route.

And hopes are high that 2027 will deliver more of the same, providing a significant boost to the local economy while also strengthening the already-impressive reputation of Leeds as a national and international sporting heavyweight.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“We might be more than a year away from welcoming the Grand Départ of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to Leeds, but there is already a good deal of excitement building around the event.

“Today’s route announcement will hopefully whet people’s appetites still further and get them thinking about where in the city they will be watching the race.

“We recognise that some residents and businesses will now have questions about how an occasion of this size could impact local communities on the day.

“They can be assured that we will be working hard alongside the race organisers to minimise any disruption and will also make every effort to keep people fully informed as plans for the event continue to take shape.”

The second stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift’s 2027 Grand Départ will see the cyclists heading from Manchester to Sheffield on July 31 before a London leg is held on August 1.

The action in the capital, it was also announced today, will involve riders competing against the clock in a team time trial that will pass landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge before finishing on the Mall.

The Grand Départ of the men’s 2027 Tour de France, meanwhile, is also being staged in the UK and will run from July 2 to 4, with riders setting out from Edinburgh and visiting cities such as Carlisle, Liverpool and Cardiff.

Marion Rousse, race director of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, said:

“The United Kingdom has already shown its passion for the Tour, and these stages will once again showcase the energy of the crowds, the beauty of the landscapes and the growing importance of women’s cycling on the world stage.”

A report by Leeds City Council and UK Sport showed the 2014 Grand Départ boosted Yorkshire’s economy by more than £100m, with further long-term benefits predicted as a result of increased tourism, profile and trade deals.

Other prominent sporting occasions hosted by the city in recent years include IRONMAN Leeds as well as fixtures during 2019's ICC Cricket World Cup and 2022’s Rugby League World Cup. That success story is continuing in 2026, with Headingley Stadium set to stage a number of cricket fixtures as part of this summer’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

The Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift are organised by French company ASO, with delivery of the 2027 Grand Départs being led by Grand Départ GB and British Cycling.

For more information about the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départ – and volunteering opportunities during the event – visit the letourgb.com website.

ENDS