Historic 2027 Tour de France Femmes Set to Inspire British Cycling with Cat Ferguson
Details of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ emerged on Monday, revealing that the UK will host the first three stages of this monumental race. This marks the first time the women’s race will take place in Britain, coinciding with the men’s race, which has previously started here in 2007 and 2014. The event is anticipated to be the most-attended women’s sporting event in Britain, with 10 million fans expected to line the streets. Stage one kicks off in Leeds, heading to Manchester, while stage two travels from Manchester to Sheffield through the Peak District. The highlight will be stage three, a team time trial through London’s iconic landmarks. Cat Ferguson, a 19-year-old rider from Movistar, aims to make her Tour debut in 2027. Inspired by the men’s race in 2014, she expressed the significance of racing on her home turf: "I’ll give it my all to be on the start line. I don’t think I'll ever get an opportunity [again] to race on my home roads." Fellow Brit, Flora Perkins of Fenix-Premier Tech, echoed Ferguson’s hopes for increased interest in women’s cycling, emphasizing the potential impact of such a high-profile event. Race director Marion Rousse hailed the British Grand Depart as a “hugely historic moment” for women’s cycling, noting the challenging nature of the stages: "There’s not one single flat kilometre." Stage one features an 86km route, while stage two incorporates 3,000m of climbing across 154.4km, including notorious climbs like Winnats Pass. Stage three will showcase central London with a circuit that includes landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge. Rousse remarked on the unique opportunity to present the race’s vibrancy through the city streets, making this a historic event for women’s cycling.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-04-20