Edinburgh Castle Lights Up as Tour de France 2027 Countdown Begins

Tour de France organisers officially launched the countdown to the 2027 Grand Départ on Thursday evening, with a yellow beam of light illuminating the sky above Edinburgh Castle.

The light display formed part of a coordinated “Tour de Skies” moment across the UK, with similar illuminations taking place in nine other host towns and cities in England and Wales.

The event marked the release of the full route for the 2027 race, which will begin in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh to Host the Opening Stage

The men’s Tour de France will start in Edinburgh on 2 July 2027, with riders heading south through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway before crossing into England and finishing in Carlisle, outside the city’s castle.

The opening stage will include a single categorised climb on the Côte de Melrose in the Eildon Hills, giving Scottish terrain a prominent role on the first day of racing.

After leaving Scotland, the race will continue through Keswick, Liverpool, Welshpool, and conclude the UK leg in Cardiff.

A Rare Double Grand Départ

In a first for the event outside France, both the men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will begin in the UK in 2027.

The women’s race will start in Leeds on 30 July 2027, travelling through Manchester and Sheffield before finishing with a final stage in London on 1 August.

Further details on the London stage are expected to be confirmed at a later date.

What It Means for Edinburgh and Scotland

Race Director Christian Prudhomme described Edinburgh as one of his favourite European cities, highlighting its landscape and atmosphere as key reasons for selecting the capital as a starting point.

Scottish leaders have pointed to the event’s wider impact, including international exposure, economic benefits, and the opportunity to showcase towns and landscapes beyond Edinburgh itself. Communities such as Newtongrange, Galashiels, and Canonbie are set to feature along the route.

Volunteers and Social Impact

Organisers also confirmed that British Cycling will recruit more than 7,000 volunteers to help deliver the Grand Départ across the UK.

Alongside the race, a new social impact programme called Joy will be rolled out, focusing on tackling inactivity, improving mental wellbeing, supporting communities, and encouraging greater participation in cycling, particularly among young people and women.

More information on volunteering and community programmes is expected when the scheme launches later this year.

References

• Edinburgh Castle kicks off city’s Tour de France countdown (DeadlineNews.co.uk)