Race information and route
In summer 2027, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will visit Kirklees.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift launched in 2022 and is the world's biggest women's professional cycle race. The 2027 event will be its first visit to Britain.
With millions of spectators expected, the race will create one of the largest free-to-watch sporting events in British history.
Where the race will come through Kirklees
The race is coming right through our communities. The Stage 1 route will cross into Kirklees before passing through Heckmondwike and Mirfield, reaching Huddersfield before heading south towards the Pennines.
Stage 1 overview
Starting from The Headrow in central Leeds, just as the men's peloton did in 2014, the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage to be held in Britain will pass through Headingley and the west of the city before crossing into Kirklees.
The route will pass through Heckmondwike and Mirfield to reach Huddersfield. It will then head south to cross the Pennines, with the first categorised climb being Kirkheaton Hill (1.7km at 7.5%), followed by Meltham Hill (3.2km at 8.4%), before descending towards Oldham alongside Dove Stone Reservoir.
The riders will then tackle the Delph climb (2.1km at 6.3%) before continuing through Greater Manchester and into Manchester, with the finish on Deansgate.
Kirklees route
The peloton will travel through Birstall, Heckmondwike, Mirfield, Kirkheaton, Waterloo, Huddersfield, Netherton and Meltham, offering spectators across the district the chance to experience one of the biggest events in world cycling on their doorstep.
Kirklees will be home to one of the key Stage One sprints as the route passes through Netherton. Intermediate sprints are important moments in the race where riders compete for valuable points, often creating some of the fastest and most exciting racing of the day as teams battle to position their riders at the front of the peloton.
Detailed maps showing exactly where the route will pass through Kirklees can be found at: Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Stage 1
- Friday 30 July: Leeds to Manchester.
- Saturday 31 July: Manchester to Sheffield.
- Sunday 1 August: London.
Overview stage maps and detailed interactive maps of all stages are available on Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift , including the race routes and key features such as designated mountain climbs.
The race will bring world-class sporting action and a colourful family-friendly atmosphere to communities across Britain. The race is free to watch, with no tickets required.
The race will be preceded by the famous publicity caravan. For around two hours, the Tour de France and its partners will entertain spectators waiting for the riders, with giveaways and activities along the route.
Exact race timings are still being finalised. Stages typically start around lunchtime, between 11am and 2pm, and finish around 4pm to 5pm, depending on the length of the stage.
Closer to the event, detailed daily timetables will be published, including estimated arrival times for the publicity caravan and the race along each route.
Previous Tour de France Grand Départs in Britain have delivered significant economic benefits. The 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire, for example, generated an estimated £131 million in economic benefits. A similar or greater impact is expected in 2027, with opportunities for tourism, hospitality and commercial partnerships.
The event will also showcase Britain, its regions, towns and cities to a worldwide television audience of more than 150 million people, helping promote these places as destinations to visit, live and work.
Alongside the races, British Cycling will deliver JOY, a social impact programme designed to tackle inactivity, improve mental wellbeing, support productivity and prosperity, and help communities thrive.
Find out more and register your interest in getting involved through the JOY programme
Full road closures will be required along the race routes for both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Diversions and other temporary traffic management measures will be put in place to provide alternative routes for road users.
Closures are necessary to prepare and secure the route, protect riders and spectators, and allow the races to pass safely. This includes removing parked vehicles, installing equipment such as finish gantries and protective barriers, deploying stewards and volunteer marshals, and carrying out some minor highway works.
Road closures will also allow the publicity caravan and race to pass safely, followed by the removal of event infrastructure and the dispersal of spectators.
Additional closures will be needed around some start and finish locations to accommodate the event and its infrastructure. These arrangements will be finalised well in advance and published locally, including information about how long roads will be closed.
Detailed information about affected roads, closure timings and diversions will be published on Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in early 2027 and shared with residents and businesses along the routes.
Walking, cycling and pedestrian access
Once roads have closed to motor traffic, cyclists and pedestrians will generally still be able to use them until approximately 30 minutes before the publicity caravan arrives. This guidance may change for operational reasons, so please follow instructions from stewards and race staff on the day.
Footpaths and pavements will generally remain open. Along the routes, pedestrians will be able to cross at designated, marked and stewarded crossing points.
Some areas may have additional access restrictions for public safety. These will be communicated ahead of the event. Please take care when crossing roads and ask event stewards for advice or assistance if needed.
Parking restrictions
The race routes must be completely free of vehicles, so parking restrictions will apply along all stage routes. Any vehicles left in restricted areas will be removed on race day.
Residents living along the routes will be contacted ahead of the event with information about parking restrictions and when vehicles need to be moved.
Spectators will be encouraged to walk or cycle to their chosen viewing points. Closer to the event, information will be available about suggested travel options and dedicated car and bicycle parking.
Planning for the events involves the Police, Fire and Rescue, NHS, ambulance services and other critical services.
Emergency access will remain a priority, and any situation will be dealt with as quickly and safely as possible. The safety of residents and visitors will also be a priority throughout the event.
If you live along a race route and need urgent help from the emergency services, call 999 as usual.
Living along the race route
Residents can help make the Grand Départ a success by supporting the races and getting involved in community activities. Decorating your home or neighbourhood is one way to celebrate the event and create a welcoming atmosphere.
If you regularly park on the race route, please follow the parking restrictions and move your vehicle before they come into force. Keeping the route clear is essential for the safety of riders and spectators.
'If you have any information about your local area or the race route that you think would be useful for the event organisers, please contact us on 01484221000.
Trading and preparing for the event
Road closures will be necessary in start and finish locations because of the scale of the races and the number of spectators expected.
The event team will do its utmost to help local businesses continue trading as usual and make the most of the interest and increased footfall the races may bring.
Support will be available to help businesses plan and prepare, including a business guide and information shared through local drop-in sessions.
Further details will be provided as event plans develop.
Community activities and volunteering
There will be a range of opportunities for people to get involved in the Grand Départs in the months leading up to the races.
Organisers are developing programmes to bring the excitement of the event to communities across Britain. These will include digital resources for schools, arts and culture initiatives, and a community toolkit to help people along the routes show their support.
Recruitment for volunteer JOY Makers attracted more than 16,700 applications during summer 2026. Applications are now closed while the team works through the application process.
Details of community programmes and how to access resources will be available on Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift ahead of the races.
Keeping up to date
Sign up to the newsletter at Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to receive updates about the 2027 Grand Départs, including news and opportunities to get involved.
Further information and contact details
Planning for the Grand Départs is well underway, and information will continue to be published as arrangements are confirmed.
For enquiries about the event that are not covered by the information on this page, contact the team on 01484 221000. Alternatively, you can contact the Grand Départ team at: enquiries@letourgb.com.
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