Tour de France 2027 Route: Stage by Stage, with Stuart O'Grady

The 2027 Tour de France starts in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July and finishes on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday 25 July. 21 stages, three summit finishes (Grand Colombier, Les Saisies and the Col du Portet) and two individual time trials, at Chambord and Toulouse. Rest days fall on Monday 5, 12 and 19 July.

We asked Stuart O'Grady to read it for us. He started 17 Tours, won four stages and wore yellow for nine days. His whole view of the race comes down to one line.

From my experience, the Tour is never won on one climb alone. It is won through three weeks of smart racing, strong teamwork, resilience and the ability to seize the right opportunity when it comes.

Here's the route, week by week, and what he's watching for.

Week one: Britain, Brittany and the Loire

Stage 1, Friday 2 July: Edinburgh to Carlisle. The first Tour de France start in Scotland, 185 km south through the Borders.

The opening stage will be one for the sprinters. Merlier, Philipsen or Madsen? But the British roads and potentially changeable weather will demand full concentration from the entire peloton.

Stage 2, Saturday 3 July: Keswick to Liverpool. 223 km from the Lake District to The Strand.

The long stage to Liverpool will provide another opportunity for the fast men.

Stage 3, Sunday 4 July: Welshpool to Cardiff. The first men's Tour stage ever raced in Wales, with seven categorised climbs and the Côte de Caerffili 12 km from the finish.

The inaugural visit to Geraint Thomas' Welsh terrain on the way to Cardiff gives the general classification contenders their first serious examination.

Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates captures a moment with enthusiastic fans on Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France.

After the transfer day the race picks up in France: a loop from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, then Pontorson to Plumelec and Vannes to Angers. Then the first real reckoning.

Stage 7, Friday 9 July: Blois to Chambord, 38 km against the clock.

During this ITT, we will find out who the real favourites are. Remco's result will be super important, and this will give us a great insight into his GC capabilities.

Week two: into the Alps

Bourges to Le Creusot is 224 km, the longest day of the Tour. Stuey calls it the high stakes game of chess on wheels. The next day the race goes uphill for real.

Stage 9, Sunday 11 July: Villars-les-Dombes to the Grand Colombier. The first summit finish.

With around 3,750 metres of climbing on the stage, this will be the first real opportunity for the overall contenders to test one another in the mountains and establish an early hierarchy.

Stage 10, Tuesday 13 July: Annecy to Sallanches.

Annecy is one of my favourite French cities, and this stage includes the famous Côte de Domancy. The route will offer a preview of the region's 2027 UCI Road World Championships.

Stage 11, Wednesday 14 July: Cluses to Les Saisies. Bastille Day, 150 km and 4,750 metres of climbing.

Riders who have lost time earlier in the race will need to go into offensive mode to claw back some time.

Then south to Valence and Montpellier, back into the climbs to Mende with 4,300 metres on Saturday 17 July, and through Rodez to Albi into the last rest day.

Week three: Toulouse, the Pyrenees and Paris

Stage 16, Tuesday 20 July: Toulouse time trial, 33 km. Home ground for Stuey.

The 33 km individual time trial in Toulouse, not far from my old home in Labarthe-sur-Lèze, will provide another major opportunity for specialists to gain time or for climbers to limit their losses before the final mountain battles.

Muret to Pau takes the race to the foot of the mountains.

By the third week, your mental fatigue, sore legs and aching body become one of the biggest opponents. Every climb hurts a little more.

Stage 18, Thursday 22 July: Pau to the Col du Portet. 174 km and around 5,400 metres of climbing.

It is the Queen Stage of the race and could prove decisive in the fight for the yellow jersey. This is where the strongest contenders could make their decisive move, although the following stage means nobody can afford to celebrate too early.

Stage 19, Friday 23 July: Hasparren to Laruns. Burdincurutcheta, Soudet and Marie Blanque, the last mountain day.

Anyone hoping to get on the podium has to go all in on these final stages. No one wants to finish fourth.

Maubourguet to Libourne is the last road stage. Then Paris on Sunday 25 July: three climbs of Montmartre and seven passes of the Champs-Élysées.

After three weeks of sacrifice, teamwork and extraordinary athletic performances, the Tour will crown another champion.

Peloton led by the yellow jersey on the iconic Champs-Élysées at the Tour de France finale.

Race days on sale now

Race days are paid in full at booking, from A$630, €400, US$465 or £355 per person.

Start any stage from Edinburgh to Maubourguet inside the VIP Departure Village. Finish the three British stages in the Izoard finish line marquee, with the French stages on the waitlist. In Paris, take a seat in the Champs-Élysées Grandstand or the Grand Palais Grandstand.

See what's available

Hosted Journeys

Our 2027 Journeys go to Priority Access holders first, then the waitlist, then everyone else. Tell us which week you're after and we'll keep you posted.

Talk to the Team

Quick answers

When is the 2027 Tour de France?

Friday 2 July to Sunday 25 July 2027.

Where does the 2027 Tour de France start and finish?

It starts in Edinburgh, the first Scottish Grand Départ, and finishes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

How many summit finishes are there?

Three: Grand Colombier (stage 9), Les Saisies (stage 11) and the Col du Portet (stage 18).

What is the queen stage?

Stage 18, Pau to the Col du Portet on Thursday 22 July: 174 km with around 5,400 metres of climbing.

Can I still get Tour de France 2027 tickets?

Yes. VIP Departure Village is on sale for stages 1 to 20, Izoard finish line hospitality for the three British stages, and the Paris grandstands for the final day. All paid in full at booking, from A$630, €400, US$465 or £355 per person.