Manchester to Host Historic 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départs

The start and finish locations for the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been unveiled tonight, as the ten host cities and towns were illuminated simultaneously in a nationwide 'Tour de Skies' moment, marking the next major milestone on the road to the historic Grand Départs, which will be the largest free sporting spectacle in British history.

The announcement also reveals the full UK route for the men’s event, and Leeds as the start location for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, on Friday 30 July 2027, before crossing the Pennines to Manchester, then returning to Sheffield via the climbs of the Peak District before concluding with a showpiece stage in London.

To celebrate the moment, all 10 start and finish venues were lit up simultaneously, with a yellow beam illuminating the sky, with prominent locations providing a stunning backdrop.

Alongside the host venues, first details of Joy, the social impact programme that will embed community impact at the heart of the 2027 Grand Départ was announced, while British Cycling also confirmed that 7,000 volunteers will be recruited to support the delivery of the world’s biggest free-to-watch sporting event.

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester 

"Greater Manchester’s hosting of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in 2027 represents a landmark addition to the city-region’s sporting calendar. Following the incredible success of the Women’s UEFA Euro 2022, the concluding stage of the inaugural Women’s Tour of Britain 2024, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the Femmes avec Zwift strengthens the region’s reputation as a leading global destination for world-class women’s sport. 

As the home of British Cycling, Manchester is the natural heart for this historic race, the first time the women's race will visit Great Britain. This achievement is a testament to the fantastic collaboration across the ten Greater Manchester boroughs, showcasing how we work together to bring the world’s biggest sporting events to our doorsteps. 

The arrival of the Tour is also a perfect opportunity to celebrate the transformative Bee Network and the ambitious active travel work led by Dame Sarah Storey. Greater Manchester is building a world-class network for walking, wheeling, and cycling, and seeing the world's best athletes race through the streets will inspire even more people to embrace travel on two wheels. 

With a global television audience of over 150 million and a significant economic boost expected to rival the £131 million generated by the 2014 Grand Départ, the 2027 races will maintain Greater Manchester's place on the world stage, driving tourism and leaving a lasting legacy for our residents and businesses alike.”