Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs 2027

Stephanie Peacock Excerpts

Monday 19th January 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)]

This Government are committed to delivering international events with pride, creating a legacy to inspire the next generation of talent and promoting exercise and healthy living. Major sporting events have a unique ability to bring communities together and to tell our national story, as well as spread significant economic and social benefits across the country.

As part of our pipeline of major sporting events, the UK Government will provide £32.17 million in funding to support the delivery of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs in 2027. This funding will support the world’s premier cycling race to return to Great Britain, speeding through Scotland, Wales, and England, connecting our nation and bringing the joy of cycling to the heart of British communities. Government funding will be used to ensure the safety and security of the event, support local authorities and deliver a lasting legacy and impact programme.

Staging both the men’s and women’s Grand Départs in the UK is a historic first for the tour, and will cement the UK’s reputation as a leading destination for international sport. Hosting these events will drive economic growth, attract international visitors, and provide a monumental moment in our sporting history. Over 900 km of free-to-spectate cycling action will pass through towns, cities, and national parks across Great Britain from Galashiels and Caerphilly to Blackburn and Sheffield. By bringing the race to communities across England, Scotland, and Wales, we will ensure that the socioeconomic benefits of the tour are felt in every corner of the country. Past editions of the Grand Départ in the UK have demonstrated significant benefits—the 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire, generated an estimated £128 million in economic return—and staging the races in 2027 is forecast to deliver more than £150 million in economic benefits to the UK.

Hosting the Tour de France Femmes for the first time in the UK represents a significant milestone in this Government’s mission to drive a decade of change for women’s sport. Just as the 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire sparked a surge in cycling participation, with one million people cycling more as a result, the 2027 races will inspire a new generation of athletes, particularly young girls, to take up the sport and break down barriers to physical activity.

We look forward to working with local authorities, community leaders, and engaging with Members of Parliament and peers to ensure the tour makes a lasting positive impact throughout Great Britain.

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