Tour de France UK 2027: Leeds route for Femmes avec Zwift in full - and how you can get involved

The arrival of the Grand Départ in the city, taking place on July 30, is history-making, as Leeds becomes the first city outside of mainland Europe to host the start of both the men’s and women’s Tours.

Thirteen years after the legendary 2014 Grand Départ transformed Yorkshire into a global cycling hub, the ‘French Connection’ is renewed.

While the men's race kicks off in Edinburgh earlier in the month, the women's peloton will take centre stage in Leeds, honouring the region’s deep cycling heritage and legends like Beryl Burton and Lizzie Deignan.

With the return of the Tour to Leeds, Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, emphasised the emotional and practical weight of the announcement: “I’m absolutely delighted that Leeds has been chosen as a host location for the Grand Départ of 2027’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

“No one who was present at the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ here will ever forget the incredible atmosphere and sights that day, and I’m sure next year’s event will deliver a whole new set of brilliant memories,” he continued.

“This is the kind of occasion that can showcase the very best of our city to the watching world while giving an important boost to the local economy.”

The 2014 Grand Départ generated a £102 million boost to the local economy, drawing millions to the roadsides of the city.

What is the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is the undisputed pinnacle of women’s professional road cycling, and while various iterations of a women’s Tour existed sporadically since the 1950s, the race was spectacularly re-launched in its modern, permanent format in 2022.

It was designed to provide female athletes with the same global platform as the men’s century-old event - complete with gruelling mountain ascents in the Alps and Pyrenees, high-speed sprint finishes, and the chance to don the most iconic prize in sports: the Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey).

The ‘avec Zwift’ title signifies the transformative partnership with the virtual cycling platform Zwift; this collaboration was instrumental in ensuring the race’s financial viability and global reach from day one.

In just a few short years, the event has shattered records to become the most-watched women’s cycling race on the planet, broadcast in over 190 countries.

Known for a tactical, all-out style of aggressive racing that often proves more unpredictable than the men’s equivalent, the Tour operates under the #WatchTheFemmes banner.

This mission seeks to bridge the gap in visibility and pay, inspiring a new generation of girls to see cycling not just as a hobby, but as a professional calling.

What is the cycle route in Leeds for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?

While the full turn-by-turn road book will be released in the spring of 2027, the organisers have confirmed the ‘bones’ of the Leeds start.

The race will begin on The Headrow, in the heart of Leeds City Centre, mirroring the iconic 2014 start.

Riders will roll out of the city through a neutralised zone before the racing officially begins, heading west out of Leeds and traversing the rugged terrain of the Pennines.

After leaving Leeds, the riders will battle through the hills of West Yorkshire and Lancashire to reach the finish line in Manchester, the home of British Cycling.

The second day of racing promises to be the ‘Queen Stage’ of the UK leg, with the highlight of the route seeing the peloton head through the heart of the Peak District, specifically tackling the legendary and iconic Snake Pass.

This brutal climb will lead to a high-stakes finish in Sheffield.

Interestingly, the riders will approach the city from the opposite direction of the 2014 men's race, a tactical shift that is likely to create significant time gaps between the overall favourites and blow the General Classification wide open.

The English trilogy concludes with a spectacular ‘Twist’ in the capital, as sources at the official announcement suggest that Stage 3 will be an Individual Time Trial (ITT) through the historic streets of London.

Settling the UK leg of the race against the clock will provide a high-drama finale before the riders and support teams head across the Channel to France for the remainder of the Tour.

Has any English cyclist won the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift previously?

As of 2026, no English or British rider has won the overall General Classification (the Yellow Jersey) of the modern Tour de France Femmes.

The winners of the first four editions were

• 2022: Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands)
• 2023: Demi Vollering (Netherlands)
• 2024: Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland)
• 2025: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France)

How can I get involved and volunteer for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?

Alongside the route reveal, organisers unveiled ‘Joy’, a landmark social impact programme delivered by British Cycling.

Joy aims to use the global spotlight of the Tour to tackle inactivity, improve mental wellbeing, and break down barriers for girls in sport across the UK.

Central to this mission is the recruitment of a massive volunteer army, as British Cycling confirmed that 7,000 volunteers will be recruited to support the delivery of both the men’s and women’s events.

Opportunities will span across route operations (keeping the peloton safe), spectator support (guiding the millions expected to line the streets), and community engagement (supporting the Joy social programmes).

While the full volunteer portal is set to launch in the Spring of 2026, eager fans can already head to the official website to register their interest and receive updates the moment applications open.

Are you looking forward to the Tour de France coming to Leeds once again next year, and are you excited about the history-making arrival of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment wherever you’ve seen this story or by emailing the writer.