Tour de France 2027 route revealed through Blackburn with Darwen

The world’s greatest cycling race is coming to Blackburn with Darwen, with the official route confirming that Tour de France riders will race through Blackburn, Tockholes and Belmont on Saturday 3 July 2027.

The route was officially unveiled in Paris on Thursday 22 October, confirming that some of the biggest names in professional cycling will pass through the borough during the second stage of the 2027 Tour de France.

The historic event will see Britain become the first country outside France to host the opening stages of both the men’s Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in the same year.

The men’s race begins in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July, with riders travelling to Carlisle before tackling a spectacular 223km second stage from Keswick to Liverpool the following day.

Where will the Tour de France go through Blackburn?

The newly confirmed route will bring the race through familiar streets, landmarks and countryside across Blackburn with Darwen.

Riders will enter the borough at Brownhill, travelling along Whalley New Road towards Blackburn town centre.

They will then pass Blackburn Cathedral and Wainwright Bridge before heading towards Ewood Park.

Just before reaching the home of Blackburn Rovers, the route turns onto Livesey Branch Road, continuing along Heys Lane towards the village of Tockholes.

From Tockholes, the cyclists will descend into Belmont, turning onto Rivington Road to tackle the challenging Côte de Belmont, which features a King of the Mountains climb.

For thousands of local residents, it promises a rare opportunity to watch the world’s leading cyclists racing through streets and villages they know so well.

Interactive maps of the full route are available at: https://www.letourgb.com/tdfroutes/stage-2/

A proud moment for Blackburn with Darwen

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, welcomed the announcement.

“Today is an exciting milestone, with the 2027 Tour de France routes being officially announced in Paris.

“What a proud moment for our borough and Lancashire to be included in one of the largest sporting events in the world.

“This is a unique chance to spotlight our towns and villages, welcome visitors, and inspire a whole new generation of cyclists.

“We’re looking forward to making the very most of this incredible opportunity – the Tour de France can expect a very warm Northern welcome in 2027.”

Free for everyone to enjoy

One of the biggest attractions of the event is that spectators will be able to watch the race for free from locations along the route.

Councillor Mahmood added:

“This is a chance to show off our borough to the world.

“Importantly, all of our residents will be able to enjoy this iconic event for free, watching world-class cycling right here in our borough.

“We have a team of colleagues working hard on the event to make the very most of the opportunity for our residents and businesses.

“3 July 2027 is a date for all our diaries: it promises to be a real moment in history.”

The event also offers an opportunity to showcase Blackburn with Darwen to an international audience, attracting visitors and potentially benefiting local businesses.

A historic summer of cycling

The 2027 Tour de France will feature three opening stages in Britain:

• Friday 2 July: Edinburgh to Carlisle
• Saturday 3 July: Keswick to Liverpool, passing through Blackburn with Darwen
• Sunday 4 July: Welshpool to Cardiff

Later in the month, the women’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will also begin in Britain, with three stages:

• Friday 30 July: Leeds to Manchester
• Saturday 31 July: Manchester to Sheffield
• Sunday 1 August: London team time trial

The women’s event will include an 18km team time trial through central London, starting at Whitehall and finishing on The Mall.

The course will take riders past famous landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park.

It will be the first team time trial in the modern history of the women’s race.

All six British stages will be broadcast live on Channel 5, with TNT Sports also providing coverage of the 2027 races.

Opportunities to get involved

The Tour de France Grands Départs will be supported by JOY, a national programme designed to encourage physical activity and improve mental wellbeing.

British Cycling has already recruited thousands of volunteers, offering people of all ages the chance to play a part in delivering the event.

Further details about local activities, opportunities to get involved and arrangements for spectators will be announced nearer the time.

Residents and businesses can explore the official route maps and frequently asked questions at: https://www.letourgb.com/