The 3rd and final stage of the UK Grand Depart in Wales looks like being a cracker.
https://www.letour.fr/en/the-race/grands-departs/grand-depart-2027
Seems the route videos don't work!!
Looking good, can't wait
Great news!
What I cant tell though, is it just following the main road down from Welshpool , or taking a more interesting (challenging) route?
I really wasn’t expecting to see 2 TdFs in my lifetime in England. First was in Ilkley, and next will be Welshpool
Seems like a waste of a visit to the Lake District. I’m sure they could have found a more lumpy route between Keswick & Windermere.
Great news!
What I cant tell though, is it just following the main road down from Welshpool , or taking a more interesting (challenging) route?
I really wasn’t expecting to see 2 TdFs in my lifetime in England. First was in Ilkley, and next will be Welshpool
Think it just follows the main road to Newtown and then over the top on main road to Llandod and Builth before things get a bit more spicey. Then once they hit the Rhigos things will get really interesting with about anoth 4 short sharp climbs in quick succession through the South Wales Valleys and the ultra quick downhill finish into Cardiff city centre. The same finish on last years Tour of Britain was really good.
And you may wish to rephrase your final sentance 😉
Seems like a waste of a visit to the Lake District. I’m sure they could have found a more lumpy route between Keswick & Windermere.
The route is mostly indicative at this stage; they've got a few set features but not a 100% nailed-on route.
Wouldn't surprise me if one of the 2026 Tours of Britain (Men's or Women's) used at least some of the proposed stage as a test run.
The Welsh stage looks a lot of fun. Cote de Rhigos lol
Didn't ever expect to have the TdF start within 25 miles of my home! Looks like it takes the backroads from Edinburgh past the Golfie on its way to Innerleithen.
Just seen this on the news, will be able to ride out and catch it as it passes through Lancashire. Rode the cote de trough of bowland today!
I know the routes are only indicative at this stage but this:
"The beautiful Lake District National Park will provide the backdrop during the opening kilometres. Once beyond Lancaster (km 75), the route will become more rolling and challenging until it reaches the outskirts of Liverpool."
sounds like it'll be beyond toss and a complete waste of a location.
It's a 223km stage, i think they were balancing the height gain with the distance
My older teenager thinks it might be nice to ride this after watching the stage. 😬
Edit: actually I think it's the Welsh one he fancies as I told him I'm not driving to Scotland (it's a very long slog from here that makes Wales look like popping to the local shop).
He then muttered something about Alpe D'Huez this year.
The greatest sporting event on the planet, the race that I have been obsessed with for 30 years, is coming past my garden fence. It’s actually overwhelming trying to work out how to max out the experience. Do I go to Edinburgh to soak it up, do I watch from bring my house as that’s so unique, do I head up Cote de Melrose to see them on the climb? Too much!
Surely you should be doing a backflip over the peloton?
I really wasn’t expecting to see 2 TdFs in my lifetime in England.
Jeez that makes me feel old.
1994, 2007, 2014 for me already. of those, the first 2 were very close to home.
2007 stage 1 went along the street past my old house, and 1994 was not a million miles away.
also, 1980 stage 2 actually went along the street on the other side of the block where I now live, but that's not in UK.
I've not been interested in Le Tour since the Armstrong years but as it looks like it's going past the Co-Op I might pop down for some milk when they're going past. Or ride up the Granites and watch whilst I have a breather. Or I could take my milk and jump on the train to Gala, decisions, decisions.
The greatest sporting event on the planet, the race that I have been obsessed with for 30 years, is coming past my garden fence. It’s actually overwhelming trying to work out how to max out the experience. Do I go to Edinburgh to soak it up, do I watch from bring my house as that’s so unique, do I head up Cote de Melrose to see them on the climb? Too much!
I’ve lucked in. Stage one goes past our youngest’s front door in Brampton and Keswick is just 30 mins from our house for the start on day two. Best of both worlds
And you may wish to rephrase your final sentance
Ahh didn’t quite realise I put that ! I guess I will still be living in England to see x 2 TdFs, even if I have to get my passport out to travel the 15 mins to Welshpool 😁
Well I've got friends in Leeds and Sheffield so TdF Femmes may be easier for me. Plus I can get into London easily enough.
Cardiff closest for the men's race.
Looking at the Keswick-Liverpool stage for the men, either the Lancaster area or near the finish, and then somewhere in the Peak for the women's race. I imagine Winnats will be rammed.
It goes over Rivvy 👏
Cotes du Melrose for me. Still a bit of a trek from Fort William so I will need accommodation which will probably require a small mortgage but it's a bit of a bucket list item.
I imagine Winnats will be rammed.
From the rumours I've heard and looking at the promo video it's more likely to go over Snake Pass from Glossop - unless they then come back round to go UP Winnats?
Excited about this. Plenty of potential spots we were discussing for stage one last night (Loads of great places depending on route through Edinburgh but probably Holyrood park, Granites, out of Melrose skirting the Eildons, top of Kielder etc) that we could reasonably easily get to with a short ride in. And then maybe a longer ride in to stage two to catch somewhere just south of Keswick where I expect logistics will be harder.
I've little interest in road cycling generally, but it would be silly to not go for a wee look given It's so close to me this time. I'm not quite sure where to go see it on the Keswick-Lancaster leg, plenty of good choices. Will probably avoid Windermere/Ambleside as they will be rammed, maybe catch is somewhere around Milnthorpe?
Can’t wait The Trough of Bowland is literally on my doorstep. In fact it’s part of one of my go to loops (160 times and counting ) It’ll be good to not only watch but the road surface will need a lot of work on it so will benefit the local cycling community afterwards.
Not looking forward to “uh oh” emails off Strava when the peloton comes thundering through though 😆
And you may wish to rephrase your final sentance
Ahh didn’t quite realise I put that ! I guess I will still be living in England to see x 2 TdFs, even if I have to get my passport out to travel the 15 mins to Welshpool
Even the BBC have managed to ignore Wales...
Edinburgh & Leeds to host Tour de France starts in 2027
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/c2e1nr0n8m1o
They manage to summon the energy to talk about Wales in the article...
I'm confused, did the BBC ignore Wales or not? Are the events starting in Wales?
Are the events starting in Wales?
Stage 3 of the Men's race starts in Welshpool, so yes, one event starts in Wales just like one starts in Scotland
I'm confused, did the BBC ignore Wales or not? Are the events starting in Wales?
Yes, and finishing in Cardiff, so the other national capital other than Edinburgh. (And home to the only British TdF winner to actually be born in Britain!) Typical crap BBC standard of reporting.
Typical crap BBC standard of reporting.
I imagine much of the mainstream media comments on this will be talking about traffic disruption... 🙄
There an actual link to an interview with Germany Thomas and a link to another article about Welsh connections to the Tour further down. I really can't see an issue, they're not exactly Fox News!
Oh look, they somehow changed Geriant to Germany!! Makes you think!!
I'm so excited. As a huge fan it's going to be so exciting. Watching the TdFF will be fine as we can cycle from home. However where to watch Le Tour will take bit more planning, especially as family want to stay and join us.
Let's hope that cycling will take off again and it will encourage young and old to get on a bicycle.
I'm so excited. As a huge fan it's going to be so exciting. Watching the TdFF will be fine as we can cycle from home. However where to watch Le Tour will take bit more planning, especially as family want to stay and join us.
Let's hope that cycling will take off again and it will encourage young and old to get on a bicycle.
This keep getting referred to but .... go watch a stage.... enjoy it.... want to watch more..... get scalped by TNT/Discovery..... give up.
Let's hope that cycling will take off again and it will encourage young and old to get on a bicycle.
As a general rule, sporting legacy is very very short-lived. The legacy of the Olympics is a bit more tangible because a lot of the facilities will still exist (in some form) after the event so Lee Valley Velodrome, the white water course nearby and so on.
The legacy of a passing sporting event is a flash in a pan at best. Like Wimbledon. Lots of people watch it on TV. Lots of people want a go on their local tennis courts. Then they find it's very difficult, it costs a fair chunk of money, it's a pain to book sessions, the nearest courts are a 20 minute drive away so they lose interest within a week or two.
Professional cycle racing is about as related to "getting on a bike" as Formula 1 is to "driving to the shops". Don't get me wrong, it'll be fantastic (once you move past the inevitable FB comments about road tax) but it'll pass through then everyone will get back in their cars for the exhausting 500m trip to the school gates.
I wonder how the stages were decided? I live in Keswick and the first anyone I know heard about this was the official announcement, I thought councils had to pay millions to the organisers for a start/finish….?
I wonder how the stages were decided? I live in Keswick and the first anyone I know heard about this was the official announcement,
It was NDA'd up to the eyeballs. I've been (loosely) involved in a couple of aspects of the TdFF due to working in local government, we were under all sorts of embargo agreements. Emails were security tagged to prevent forwarding, bcc'd, the whole works.
ASO take their route announcements really seriously.