The routes for the three United Kingdom stages of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes have been officially announced, with competitors already describing the course as "super brutal."
A demanding 154-kilometer second stage from Manchester to Sheffield stands out, featuring nearly 3,000 meters of climbing and tackling the legendary Winnats Pass in the Peak District. Race organizer ASO has labeled it "one of the hardest Grand Depart stages we've ever seen."
The event kicks off with an 85.7-kilometer journey from Leeds to Manchester, expected to culminate in a sprint finish. It concludes with an approximately 18-kilometer team time trial finishing on The Mall in London—a first for the women's race. The precise time trial route will be detailed in October.
"Having the Tour de France Femmes so close to home feels like a full circle moment for me," said Movistar's English rider Cat Ferguson, who hails from Skipton in Yorkshire. "I watched the men's Grand Depart in Yorkshire in 2014 from the side of my home roads as a young kid, and now I hope to have the opportunity next year to line up and race in the peloton."
The 19-year-old added, "I trained on those roads and I know they're going to be super brutal stages. Stage two in particular—always up and down. It's really going to be one that can change the Tour. The GC leaders can lose a lot."
Both the men's and women's editions of cycling's premier event will commence in Britain next year, with the men's race starting on July 2 and the women's on July 30. This marks the first time both Grand Departs have been held in the same country outside of France.
The UK stages are promoted as "the most accessible major sporting spectacle ever held in Britain," according to the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is estimated that 60% of the population will live within an hour's drive of the routes, with free viewing available along over 900 kilometers of public roads.
Tour de France Femmes race director Marion Rousse commented, "The United Kingdom has already shown its passion for the Tour, and these stages will once again showcase the energy of the crowds, the beauty of the landscapes and the growing importance of women's cycling on the world stage."
The announcement event also featured seven young girls from the JOY participation program, which focuses on combating inactivity and enhancing mental wellbeing in Britain.