World’s biggest bike race Tour de France is coming to South of Scotland
We have welcomed the news that the world’s biggest bike race will be coming to the region in 2027.
The Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway will host the majority of Stage 1 of the 2027 Tour de France, which will start in Edinburgh and finish in Carlisle on Friday 2 July 2027.
Stage 1 route
- After departing Edinburgh, Stage 1 will head south to Innerleithen, then onto Galashiels and Melrose.
- The route will then take riders to the edge of Selkirk and onto Hawick and Newcastleton before travelling through Canonbie in Dumfries & Galloway towards the stage finish in Carlisle.
The Tour de France will bring hugely significant opportunities for the South, with the event broadcast to over 190 countries with an estimated global TV audience of 3.5billion to 4bn people across the three-week race. At least 12million people watch the Tour de France each year at the roadside.
SOSE Chair Russel Griggs said:
“This is fantastic news for the South of Scotland, giving us another opportunity to highlight what our region – which is the global Home of the Bike – has to offer.
“Through the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership, our region now has a track record of delivering successful, world-leading cycling events.
“This includes the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which saw 65million broadcast viewers from across the globe watch the events hosted in the South of Scotland, which provided a direct economic impact worth £8million to Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
“However, these figures will be surpassed by the Tour de France, which is estimated to have a global TV audience in the billions.
“We want cycling to become the most popular choice for shorter, everyday journeys by 2032 in the South, and hosting the Tour de France will provide a transformative step towards achieving this goal.”
David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) said:
“The South of Scotland is a fitting host for the world’s most prestigious road cycling race, with its stunning scenery, welcoming culture and strong cycling history.
“The first pedal-powered bicycle was invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan in Dumfriesshire, and cycling remains a vital part of our visitor economy, with the 250-mile Kirkpatrick Coast 2 Coast cycling route drawing flocks of cyclists from across the UK and beyond since its launch in 2024.
“Hosting the Tour de France is an incredible opportunity to showcase everything the South of Scotland has to offer when it comes to cycling - while the whole world is watching!
“Cycle tourism has huge economic benefits, and we look forward to welcoming fans to the region as they pedal in the tracks of the Tour de France greats.”