Thursday July 2nd 2026
(Left to right) John Watt from Scottish Cycling, City of Edinburgh Transport and Environment Convener Stephen Jenkinson, Edinburgh based professional cyclist Sean Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport from the Scottish Government Stephen Flynn and Director of Industry & Events at Visit Scotland Rob Dickson
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
All eyes will turn to Edinburgh and Midlothian in one year’s time as the Tour de France departs from Scottish soil with excitement already building ahead of the largest free sporting event in British history.
The first in a series of public activations which celebrate the historic Grand Depart was hosted in Edinburgh Waverley Station today, with councillors and politicians marking one year until the race makes its way through Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Borders.
The activation, at Edinburgh Waverley railway station, marks exactly one year until the Tour de France departs the Scottish capital on Friday 2 July 2027 – the first time in the race’s history that it will have started in Scotland – with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift following from Leeds on Friday 30 July 2027.
Edinburgh based professional cyclist Sean Flynn (Team Picnic PostNL), joined Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport from the Scottish Government; Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment Convener from City of Edinburgh Council; and Rob Dickson, Director of Industry & Events at VisitScotland, who came together at Edinburgh Waverly, where the public could participate in a Grand Départ GB promotion on Thursday (2 July) to mark the milestone.
Speaking to the Midlothian View at today’s public activation, Cabinet Secretary Stephen Flynn highlighted the economic and engagement opportunity for Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scotland as a whole during the race, explaining:
“For Scotland as a whole what an opportunity to showcase our nation, starting in Edinburgh at the castle next to that iconic structure that we know so well, and then down into Midlothian.
“Hopefully what we can see on the back of that, right along the route, is tourists and locals coming to see the tour and coming to enjoy all that the local communities have to offer, and the cafe, restaurants and bars.
“We know that when people go to sporting events they tend to spend a little bit of money both getting and also when it’s going on. So it’s about how, as a local area, you harness the enthusiasm and make sure that you’ve got something on offer. I know there’s a lot of work going on in local communities to make sure that the economic benefit is there for local businesses which is hugely important to me, and hugely important to everyone across Edinburgh, Midlothian and down into the Borders.”
Cabinet Secretary Stephen Flynn chats with Edinburgh procyclist Sean Flynn
The route of the race was revealed in January, confirming that the race will make its way through Midlothian on Friday 2 July 2027. The opening stage will start in Edinburgh before heading south through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, tackling the day’s sole categorised climb on the Cote de Melrose amidst the Eldon Hills, before crossing the border and finishing in Carlisle, outside the city’s medieval castle.
Tour de France Grand Depart organisers are yet to fully publish the route map which will show where in Midlothian the race will take place but in a fly through route video posted to their YouTube, we can predict that the route, after the city centre, will follow Gilmerton Road and follow the A7 until just after Middleton.
Also discussing the benefits the race will have, Transport and Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council Stephen Jenkinson explained:
“It’s really exciting for Edinburgh to showcase not only the city but be a showcase for Scotland. There’s already been a lot of work done in the background to make sure this is going to be a huge success and I’m absolutely confident that if we get a day like today for the Grand Depart, Edinburgh is going to be looking at its best and it’s going to be a real spectacle in the eyes of the world.”
With many residents potentially being concerned about road closures and travel disruptions the race may have on the capital, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson highlighted the large amount of planning to reduce disruption as much as possible.
He explained: “Residents in Edinburgh are actually quite used to the city being busy and there are often a lot of road closures on short notice so I think people are going to be used to that change and we are certainly going to make sure that in advance they will know what roads are closed and when.
“I think a lot of residents, visitors and people from surrounding areas will want to come here to see this event so those road closures will probably be welcomed.”
The activation gives people a chance to find out more information on next year’s opening stage, and to discover how they can get involved, joining the 8,750 people who have already applied to play their part in the 2027 Grands Départs by being a JOY Maker. There will also be kid’s activities on offer, facilitated by members of the JOY social impact team.
Discussing the lasting legacy the race may have for Scotland, Stephen Flynn added:
“It’s about making sure that we use these massive global sporting events to inspire young people to get involved in sport, whether that’s cycling or football or otherwise, that the opportunity is there through schools, through local communities, through volunteering and indeed through the medium of social media.
“We can hopefully use it as a vehicle to inspire the next generation.
“Look at what a line-up [of upcoming events] we’ve got. You’ve got the Commonwealth Games, then you’ve got the Tour de France and then you’ve got the Euros. That’s the envy of so many other nations but the thing that we have as a small nation is a global footprint and when people see Scotland they recognise it and having the tour leave from Edinburgh Castle is going to be iconic and one of those moments people will remember for a long time.”
Cabinet Secretary Stephen Flynn and Edinburgh procyclist Sean Flynn ride the smart bikes at the activation
Midlothian Council has aimed to create a lasting legacy for the county with Council Leader Kelly Parry encouraging young residents to take advantage of unique employment opportunities linked to the race alongside the council making calls for volunteers to support the Grand Depart.
Anyone who visits the activation at Waverly station can also find out more about the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift that will be hosted by Britain for the first time in summer 2027. As part of the year to go celebrations, Zwift are giving fans the chance to experience the platform and test their Zwift Ride smart bike. For those who are unable to attend in person, Zwift’s festivity of ‘Tour Fever’ will run from 6 July 6 to 16 August, featuring many of the key climbs from both 2026 races and a newly expanded Paris map.
Also at today’s activation was Edinburgh based professional cyclist Sean Flynn, who rides for Team Picnic PostNL, spoke to the Midlothian View explaining:
“I think it’s going to be one of those sporting events that’s more than just the sport itself. It really brings in all the people from different walks of life and it turns into a sport that can really inspire a lot of people to take up cycling.”
Subsequent activations will take place on Central Square outside Cardiff Central railway station (Thursday 9 July); at Manchester Piccadilly railway station (Thursday 16 July); and at London King’s Cross railway station (Thursday 23 July) and be open from 07:00 to 19:00.
Fans attending the 2026 Grand Départ in Barcelona can also discover more about next year’s races, with Visit Wales hosting a Grand Départ GB stand in the fan zone in Passeig Lluís Companys, that is open until Sunday (5 July) afternoon.
UK Government Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Watching this year’s Tour de France get underway and knowing that it will be our turn next is incredibly exciting.
“We cannot wait to welcome the world’s best riders for both the men’s and women’s races next summer, taking cycling’s most iconic events into the hearts of communities across England, Scotland and Wales.
“Together, the 2027 Grands Départs will be the most accessible major sporting event ever held in Britain and these Year to Go events will give people all over the country the chance to start getting involved now.”
Rob Dickson, Director of Industry & Events at Visit Scotland commented: “It is exciting to now be counting down a year to go until Scotland hosts the prestigious Tour de France Grand Départ 2027. Events of this scale raise the international profile of Scotland as a world-class cycling destination, introducing our offering to new audiences and inspiring future visits.
“Cycling is very popular among a number of our major European markets and is an important part of our national sustainable tourism ambitions. With the Tour de France coming to Scotland for the first time, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to inspire a new generation of cycling fans and riders to visit our world class cycling routes while boosting cycle tourism right across the country.
“Tourism and events are vital to the visitor economy, helping to support local businesses and communities and making Scotland a better place to live, visit, work and do business.”
Tracy Power, Managing Director of the British Cycling Foundation, said: “It is fantastic to be beginning our public activations in Edinburgh with one year to go, but there is no need to wait until next summer, people can get involved in the Grands Départs now. Whether it is by signing up as a JOY Maker, registering for our Readiness to Work programme if you are a young person, or heading to our website at letourgb.com/joy and discovering our six programmes and how we will bring the joy of cycling to you through positive social change.”
A dedicated social impact programme, JOY, aims to deliver lasting impact beyond 2027, focused on improving health and wellbeing, skills development and connecting communities. The programme will create an opportunity for young people to develop and showcase their skills whilst bringing together community groups to showcase and celebrate their local area and include a nationwide volunteer programme offering thousands of people the chance to be part of these historic sporting events first-hand.
More details of further public summer activations will be announced in the coming weeks, giving people in communities across the six stages the opportunity to find out more about the Grands Départs, and how they are not just something to watch next year, but something to get involved with now.
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