On 30 July 2027, the Tour de France Femmes will start in Leeds, marking the first time the race has been held in the UK. The organisers revealed the route through France and where Demi Vollering hopes to secure her third Tour victory during the official route presentation in Paris.
Four weeks after the men, it is the women’s turn, and also Their tour begins on the island. The sixth edition of the Tour de France Femmes gets underway on 30 July in Leeds. This marks the first time that both races have started in the same country outside France. The opening stages are set to be a real challenge: according to race director Marion Rousse, the second stage through the Peak District could be the toughest ever seen at a Grand Départ. This will be followed in London by the first team time trial in the race’s history. The defending champion is Demi Vollering, who in 2026 became the first rider to win the modern Tour for a second time. The new route reveals what lies in store for her and her rivals in the run-up to the finale on 7 August.
Tour de France Femmes 2025 – key facts at a glance
- Date: 30 July – 7 August 2027
- 1,156 kilometres in total
- 6th edition
- 9 stages
- 1 Team time trial
- 2 flat stages
- 3 hilly stages
- 3 mountain stages, two of which finish on a mountain
The Puy de Dôme: the stage for the decisive moment
The highlight of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes is the Puy de Dôme. The road up the extinct volcano near Clermont-Ferrand winds its way in a spiral to the summit, with a gradient of around twelve per cent over the final few kilometres. The mountain rose to fame on 12 July 1964. On that day, Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor rode up side by side, Anquetil on the inside against the rock face, Poulidor on the outside by the precipice. It was only just before the summit that Poulidor managed to break away and gain 42 seconds on Anquetil. However, that wasn’t enough to secure the Yellow Jersey, and Anquetil went on to win his fifth Tour in Paris. So we can expect another such duel in 2027. This is where the Tour de France Femmes will be decided.
An overview of all the stages of the 2027 Women’s Tour de France
Stage 1, Friday 30 July | Leeds – Manchester | 86 kilometres
The Women’s Tour de France gets underway in Leeds. Just like the men’s race, there are three stages in the UK before the remaining stages take place in France. The Côte de Meltham presents the first challenge for the peloton exactly halfway through the stage. With an 8.4 per cent gradient over 3.2 kilometres, this climb will really take its toll on the sprinters for the first time. However, it’s unlikely to be enough to shake them all off. That said, breakaway riders will still have their first chance here. At 86 kilometres, the opening stage is anything but long, which is why a sprint from a slightly depleted peloton seems the most likely outcome.
Stage 2, Saturday 31 July | Manchester – Sheffield | 154 kilometres
The second stage takes the riders from Manchester to Sheffield. It’s a very hilly course with plenty of ups and downs. Just six kilometres from the finish, the Côte de Jenkin Road presents a nasty climb: 800 metres at a gradient of 10.8 per cent. A dream for powerful classics specialists. But the favourites could also go full throttle here for the first time. However, gaps are not expected to form. A sprint from within a group is likely to be the most probable scenario, although breakaway riders could once again outwit the peloton.
Stage 3, Sunday 1 August | London – London | 18 kilometres | Team time trial
We’re off to the capital. London will host the first women’s team time trial in the history of the Tour de France. On this almost flat 18-kilometre course, the team of favourites will play a particularly significant role. Whoever manages to gain the first few seconds – or even minutes – here will head to France with an early lead.
Stage 4, Monday 2 August | Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – Calais | 123 kilometres
The stage in France runs from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage to Calais. 123 kilometres over undulating terrain once again. There are five categorised climbs, all just under a kilometre long. The gradients range from around seven to eight per cent. The sprinters will certainly be looking to settle the stage amongst themselves here.
Stage 5, Tuesday 3 August | Neufchâtel-en-Bray – Magnanville | 161 kilometres
The route for the fifth stage runs from Neufchâtel-en-Bray to Magnanville. Eight climbs, six of which are in the final 50 kilometres of the 161-kilometre route. Once again, they are all between one and two kilometres long, though some have gradients of over 10 per cent. The final stretch is also uphill. This is clearly a stage for classics specialists or, indeed, the general classification contenders.
Stage 6, Wednesday 4 August | Orléans – Bourges | 138 kilometres
‘Flat’ is the watchword for the sixth stage. There are no significant obstacles along the 138-kilometre route between Orléans and Bourges. The peloton is likely to keep the breakaway riders in check here, leading to a bunch sprint.
Stage 7, Thursday 5 August | Nevers – La Loge des Gardes | 155 kilometres
La Loge des Gardes is the finish of the seventh stage. The route runs for 155 kilometres from Nevers to the gruelling climb. A 6.7-kilometre climb averaging 7.1 per cent is the main challenge of the day at the end of the stage. Before that, the route follows mostly flat roads towards the mountain finish.
Stage 8, Friday 6 August | La Bourboule – Clermont-Ferrand | 151 kilometres
Following the gruelling mountain finish of the seventh stage, the eighth stage continues to be a demanding affair. Six categorised climbs, all with an average gradient of between 5 and 6.5 per cent, will leave the riders’ legs feeling tired. On this day, it’s non-stop uphill or downhill.
Stage 9, Saturday 7 August | Clermont-Ferrand – Puy de Dôme | 170 kilometres
The grand finale of the 2027 Women’s Tour de France is the Puy de Dôme. Riders will have to conquer seven mountain climbs beforehand on the ninth stage between Clermont-Ferrand and the Puy de Dôme. So the riders are likely to be well warmed up by the time they reach the Tour de France’s toughest climb. At 11.3 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.8 per cent, it’s no walk in the park. The overall winner will be decided at the end of this stage – perhaps it will be the very same rider.
With the Puy de Dôme as the final stage, the organisers have clearly set the tone: the toughest challenge awaits right at the very end. Anyone who wants to win the Tour must pace themselves right up until the last day, as the general classification could be completely turned on its head on the volcano. There is, however, one fly in the ointment. As was the case last year, the Tour de France Femmes comprises just nine stages. Although the race has grown year on year since its relaunch in 2022, there will be no additional stage in 2027. The move towards a longer women’s Tour will therefore have to wait at least another year.
Leon Weidner
Editor