Cycling was the centre of attention in Leeds today as the year-long countdown to the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift got under way in style.
The city will make sporting history on July 30 next year when it hosts the start of stage one of the first ever visit to Britain by the world’s biggest women’s professional cycle race.
And, to mark exactly one year to go until the big day, an eye-catching pop-up event has been organised in City Square where local residents can learn more about the plans for 2027.
The list of guests for today’s event – which runs until 6pm and is branded in the Tour’s famous yellow – includes Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, and Dean Hardman, readiness director for Grand Départ GB.
In addition to getting the latest information on the race itself, passers-by can pick up promotional material and find out more about the Grand Départ’s JOY Makers volunteering programme.
They also have the opportunity to celebrate the one-year milestone with a ‘selfie moment’ alongside a large-scale version of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift logo.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“We were delighted to be announced earlier this year as one of the host locations for the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
“Now, with 12 months to go, excitement can really begin to build ahead of a day that will further strengthen our reputation as a key player on the national and international sporting stage.
“The event in City Square is a great way of marking today’s milestone, with people getting the chance to learn more about the Grand Départ and what it will mean for Leeds.
“Detailed preparations for the race are continuing and, alongside the organisers, we will be working hard over the next 12 months to keep communicating all the latest information to local residents, businesses and communities.”
The Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will run from Leeds to Manchester on July 30 and then from Manchester to Sheffield on July 31 before finishing in London on August 1.
The action in Leeds will start on the Headrow, with riders undertaking a partial loop of the city centre before striking out bound for Headingley. After passing Headingley Stadium, they will travel down to Kirkstall and then towards Bramley.
From there, they will go south via Gamble Hill and Farnley before heading west to Drighlington and, ultimately, crossing into Kirklees and over the Pennines to Manchester.
Full details of the roads involved – together with information on temporary closures and traffic restrictions – will be announced in due course, with a wide-reaching programme of engagement with residents and businesses set to begin shortly.
People can also receive Leeds-specific updates on how the day will work by joining a dedicated mailing list via the Visit Leeds website.
Next year’s event will make Leeds the first place outside mainland Europe to host the start of stage one of a Grand Départ for both the men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Around 230,000 people packed into the city centre to cheer the riders on their way during the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014, with another two million spectators lining the rest of the race’s Yorkshire route.
For more information about the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départ – and volunteering opportunities during the event – visit the letourgb.com website.
The Grand Départ of the men’s 2027 Tour de France is also taking place in the UK and will run from July 2 to 4, with riders visiting cities such as Edinburgh, Carlisle, Liverpool and Cardiff.
The Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift are organised by French company ASO, with delivery of the 2027 Grand Départs being led by Grand Départ GB and British Cycling.
ENDS
