It has been known for months that, where the 2027 Tour de France will start. It has now also been confirmed where the route will take the riders next. The 114th edition starts on 2 July in Edinburgh, and for the first time the peloton will ride through Scotland and Wales before the Tour crosses into France after three stages on British soil. Until 25 July, the route will take riders through hills, high mountains and time trials. The focus is on a man who could make history: with a sixth overall victory, Tadej Pogačar would become the Tour’s sole record holder. A look at the 21 stages will reveal whether the route will help him or whether it will open up new opportunities for his challengers.
Tour de France 2027 – the key facts at a glance
- Date: 2 July – 25 July 2027
- 3,477.5 kilometres in total
- 114th edition
- 21 stages
- 7 flat stages
- 7 hilly stages
- 2 individual time trials
- 5 mountain stages, including two mountain finishes
A double victory in the Pyrenees
For the men, the focus is on a classic Pyrenean stage. On this queen stage, the route first takes the riders over the Col du Tourmalet – the busiest mountain pass in Tour history – and then on up to the Col du Portet. With its summit at over 2,200 metres, the Portet is one of the highest mountain finishes in the Pyrenees and is very familiar to Tadej Pogačar: in 2021, he won there and extended his lead in the Yellow Jersey. He has similarly fond memories of the second major highlight, the Grand Colombier in the Jura. In 2020, he beat Primož Roglič in a sprint there, just a few days before claiming the Yellow Jersey in the time trial to the Planche des Belles Filles.
Montmartre remains part of the finale
The race against the clock will be a real challenge on two occasions in 2027. With two individual time trials, the strong time-trialists amongst the general classification contenders will have the chance to make up any time they might lose in the mountains. Remco Evenepoel, in particular, is likely to benefit from this. Spectators need not expect a lack of excitement in the finale. Contrary to some rumours, the final stage in Paris will once again feature three climbs up to Montmartre. Following the debut in 2024, when Wout van Aert shook off Pogačar in the rain to win the stage, and Mathieu van der Poel’s narrow victory this year, the spectacle in the French capital is set to continue.
The elevation profiles for all 21 stages show exactly where the overall victory could be decided and which stages in between might hold some surprises.
An overview of all the stages of the 2027 Men’s Tour de France
Stage 1, Friday 2 July | Edinburgh – Carlisle | 184 kilometres
The 2027 Tour de France will get underway in Edinburgh. This marks the fifth time that Great Britain has been part of the Tour de France. Unlike the Women’s Tour, which also starts in Great Britain, there will be no easy stage for the professionals to ease into the race. The peloton will cover 184 kilometres to Carlisle, spending most of the time on Scottish roads. Only right at the very end does the route cross the border into England. The sprinters will need to be at their very best right from the start.
Stage 2, Saturday 3 July | Keswick – Liverpool | 223 kilometres
The second day of the 2027 Tour de France is set to be a long one right from the start. A full 223 kilometres lie between Keswick and Liverpool, all of which are in England. Five mountain classifications with climbs that aren’t too long will have to be tackled, but overall, this stage is also likely to come down to a bunch sprint. However, the breakaway riders are not without a chance, especially if the wind plays a part.
Stage 3, Sunday 4 July | Welshpool – Cardiff | 223 kilometres
The third and final day on the island will be significantly hillier than the previous two stages. Once again, the riders will have to cover 223 kilometres, with some gruelling climbs of up to 11 per cent gradient. The route from Welshpool to Cardiff will take place entirely on Welsh soil. Classic race enthusiasts should already mark this stage in their calendars, especially as the Côte de Caerffili looms just 13 kilometres from the finish. Its 2 kilometres and 8.1 per cent gradient will really take it out of most riders in the peloton.
Stage 4, Tuesday 6 July | Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | 171 kilometres
Following the opening stage in the UK, the race continues in France, with a rest day in between. Both the start and finish are in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The 171-kilometre route over gently undulating terrain presents no major difficulties for much of the way. However, there is a steep climb just before the finish, and the road also leads uphill to the finish line itself. For sprinters who enjoy uphill finishes, this is a perfect stage.
Stage 5, Wednesday 7 July | Pontorson – Plumelec | 178 kilometres
On the second day on the European mainland, the stage runs from Pontorson to Plumelec, covering 178 kilometres across eastern France. As on the previous day, it is a relatively flat route with a short climb a few kilometres before the finish, as well as an uphill finish.
Stage 6, Thursday 8 July | Vannes – Angers | 193 kilometres
If the route was already flat on the previous two days, it’s set to get even flatter now. A stage that is almost certain to end in a bunch sprint. There are 193 flat kilometres between Vannes and Angers. Vannes is situated very close to Plumelec, the finish of the previous stage. For the riders, this means one more night in the same accommodation, which definitely allows for more rest.
Stage 7, Friday 9 July | Blois – Chambord | 38 kilometres | Individual time trial
In the geographical centre of the country, the professionals face their first time trial. The seventh stage runs from Blois to Chambord and covers 38 kilometres. There is virtually no elevation gain here; with only very gentle undulations, every watt counts. The time trial specialists will battle it out amongst themselves on this stage.
Stage 8, Saturday 10 July | Bourges – Le Creusot | 224.5 kilometres
From Bourges to Le Creusot. This is the longest stage of the 2027 Tour de France, covering a full 224.5 kilometres. The day’s two mountain climbs await the peloton over the final 35 kilometres. This section is ideal for a long breakaway, but in the end the breakaway riders will need plenty of stamina to avoid being reeled in just before the finish.
Stage 9, Sunday 11 July | Villars-les-Dombes (Parc des Oiseaux) – Grand Colombier | 162 kilometres
The Grand Colombier, a mountain in the southern Jura that has already served twice as the finish line for a Tour stage, is situated here. The ninth stage starts in Villars-les-Dombes, with the first few kilometres being flat to allow the riders to settle into the race. After that, however, things really get going. After three mountain climbs that are already challenging, 17.4 kilometres of climbing at an average gradient of 7.1 per cent await the professionals. Following Friday’s time trial two days earlier, this 162-kilometre stage will be the first real test for the favourites for the overall victory.
Stage 10, Tuesday 13 July | Annecy – Sallanches | 171 kilometres
Following a rest day, which many in the peloton probably needed, the race gets underway in Annecy on Tuesday. The peloton will make its way to the very west of the country, with six climbs on the programme, all of which boast steep gradients. The Montée de Brison stands out, at 5 kilometres long with a gradient of 10.2 per cent. However, as it comes in the first half of the 171-kilometre stage, the gaps between the favourites are unlikely to be huge. The four mountain classifications in the final third, however, with gradients ranging from 7.5 per cent to 9.4 per cent on two occasions, will encourage attacks. The Côte de Domancy, which features the 9.4 per cent gradient, is a regular fixture on the Tour de France and Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes routes. The riders will be in the famous Haute-Savoie department.
Stage 11, Wednesday 14 July | Cluses – Les Saisies | 150 kilometres
The following day will also be a challenging one. Early on in the race, the Col de la Colombière and the Col de la Croix Fry lie in wait. Halfway through the stage, the terrain becomes slightly less mountainous, but the final stretch will once again demand everything from the riders. The Col du Pré and the Montée de Bisanne are both over 12 kilometres long and have average gradients of just under 8 per cent (Col du Pré) and just over 8 per cent (Montée de Bisanne). The finish is in Les Saisies after 150 kilometres. However, the riders still have to make it there after tackling the Montée de Bisanne. A short descent and an equally short climb back up still lie ahead.
Stage 12, Thursday 15 July | Chambéry – Valence | 162 kilometres
Chambéry was also a stage finish in the 2026 Tour de France. With no categorised climbs, the first part of the route undulates gently, whilst the second half of the 162-kilometre stage tends to be downhill. After some gruelling days in the mountains, this means that the fastest riders in the peloton can finally look forward to another bunch sprint.
Stage 13, Friday 16 July | Aubenas – Montpellier | 164 kilometres
And because it was such a great stage, there’s another opportunity for the sprinters the very next day, on Stage 13. There are no significant obstacles between Aubenas and Montpellier.
Stage 14, Saturday 17 July | Montpellier – Mende | 199 kilometres
The next stage also gets underway in Montpellier on the 14th day of racing. Breakaway riders are likely to sense an opportunity on this section. However, they face some real challenges on their way to victory. Halfway through the 199-kilometre stage, riders must conquer the Col de la Lusette. At 11.6 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.3 per cent, it is no walk in the park. Shortly before the finish, the Côte de l’Estrade and the Côte de la Croix Neuve also stand in their way. The second of these, in particular, is likely to decide the stage winner, as it has an average gradient of just over 10 per cent and is three kilometres long. It will also be an exciting stage for the general classification contenders, with several candidates likely to launch attacks here.
Stage 15, Sunday 18 July | Rodez – Albi | 168 kilometres
Once again, the 168-kilometre stretch from Rodez to Albi presents no major challenges. However, it is not entirely flat. The route through the Ségala region, a plateau, is characterised by constant ups and downs. Once again, the sprinters will be in demand here.
Stage 16, Tuesday 20 July | Toulouse – Toulouse | 33 kilometres | Individual time trial
Straight after the rest day, it’s on to the individual time trial. With a 33-kilometre course starting and finishing in Toulouse, the specialists will once again be called upon. At the 24-kilometre mark, amidst an otherwise flat route, the Côte de Pech David awaits. It’s 800 metres long with a gradient of 12.4 per cent. That’s a real challenge – no rider will be able to stay on their time trial aerobars here.
Stage 17, Wednesday 21 July | Muret – Pau | 186 kilometres
The distance between Muret and Pau is 186 kilometres, with no categorised climbs. The sprinters will once again have a strong interest in keeping the breakaway group’s lead within manageable limits. In the end, it will probably come down to a bunch sprint.
Stage 18, Thursday 22 July | Pau – Saint-Lary-Soulan (Col du Portet) | 174 kilometres
After some flat stages and a time trial, the race heads into the mountains. Two days in the Pyrenees await the peloton. After the Col du Soulor comes the notorious Col du Tourmalet. At 19 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.4 per cent, it’s more than just a warm-up for what’s yet to come.
But that’s not all: after the Hourquette d’Ancizan, there’s a mountain finish at the Col du Portet. 16 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.7 per cent, out of a total stage distance of 174 kilometres. The overall classification could well be decided here.
Stage 19, Friday 23 July | Hasparren – Laruns | 160 kilometres
Stage 19 also takes the riders through the Pyrenees once again. A total of 160 kilometres, including the Col de Burdincurutcheta, the Col de Soudet and the Col de Marie Blanque. The latter gets really steep towards the end. The riders can expect gradients of over 12 and 13 per cent there. After that, the route descends to the finish line, where the winner of the 2027 Tour de France will be crowned.
Stage 20, Saturday 24 July | Maubourguet – Libourne | 198 kilometres
After all, nothing is set to change in the general classification on Stage 20. There is hardly any climbing on the route here. After 198 kilometres, it looks set to be another bunch sprint.
Stage 21, Sunday 25 July | Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines – Paris (Champs-Élysées) | 116 kilometres
The final stage to Paris begins in Saint-Quentin-Yvelines. As is traditional, the riders will start off at a leisurely pace and raise a glass of champagne, before competing for the final stage victory on the circuits in Paris. They will ride up Montmartre three times, so a spectacular show is guaranteed.
Leon Weidner
Editor