Le Tour de France is coming to Cymru! In 2027 both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will hold their first three stages in Great Britain – an event known as the Grand Départs. 

The men will start in Edinburgh on 2 July and race to Cardiff and the women will start in Leeds on 30 July and race to London.

Le Tour de France will come to Cymru on 4 July, the third stage of the race. The route will take the riders from Welshpool, through five counties, to Cardiff.

Want to know a bit more about it? Here are some facts and figures. 

  • Le Tour de France

    • The Tour de France is the world’s biggest annual sporting event, held every year since 1903 (with the exception of 1915-18 and 1940-46)
    • The race is roughly 3500km and takes place over 21 stages 
    • It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España
    • Geraint Thomas is the only Welsh person – and only the third Brit – to win the tour de France (in 2018)
    • Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift staged its first edition in 2022
    • It takes place after the men’s race in July / August every year and features eight stages

  • The Grand Départ

    • The Grand Départ is the name given to the start of the race, particularly when it is held outside France
    • The three stages of both Grand Départs are a full part of the race, counting towards the end result
    • This is the third time the Tour de France Grand Départ has taken place in the UK, after London and Kent in 2007 and Yorkshire in 2014
    • It’s the first time both races will start in the same country outside France

  • Le Tour de France - Facts and Figures

    (based on the 2025 race)

    • 184 riders in 23 teams
    • 12 million roadside spectators along the route 
    • Broadcast to 190 countries worldwide
    • Almost 110 hours of live broadcast
    • More than 1 billion hours viewed
    • 86 million visits to the Tour de France website
    • 740 million videos watched on official channels
    • 150 caravan vehicles, making a 10km long convoy

Stage 3 Cymru Route 

The third and final day of the Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ will see Le Tour de France come to Cymru for the first time.

The route will begin in Y Trallwng town centre and head through the green heart of Cymru. It passes through Mid-Wales’ rural market towns, including Y Drenewydd (Newtown), Llandrindod Wells, Llanfair ym Muallt (Builth Wells) and Aberhonddu (Brecon). 

After Aberhonddu (Brecon), the climbs come thick and fast! Eight categorised climbs line the route, with six in the final 80 kilometres of racing as the peleton makes its way through and over the south Wales valleys. 

These lead to a fast, downhill finish from the top of the Côte de Caerffili into Caerdydd (Cardiff), past Castell Caerdydd (Cardiff Castle) and finishing outside the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Notable landmarks on the route  

  • Powis Castle 
  • The National Cycling Museum, Llandrindod Wells
  • The Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells 
  • Mynydd Epynt 
  • Pen-y-Fan 
  • Zip World 
  • Castell Caerffili
  • Castell Caerdydd

Tour de France Stage 3, route map

Watch it live. Follow every moment.

You can watch the Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ on Channel 5 and highlights will be shown on S4C and follow the social channels below for the latest updates and news from Le Tour de France:

 

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