In short

Stage 1 of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes runs 85.7 km from Leeds to Manchester on Friday 30 July 2027. For the night before, look at Leeds. After the finish, stay in Manchester. Rooms near the start go first, so book early and pick a free cancellation rate in case details change.

Key facts
DateFri 30 July 2027
StartLeeds, The Headrow
FinishManchester
Distance85.7 km (53 mi)
Stage typeSprint stage
Categorised climbs3 categorised climbs
Start and finish timesTo be confirmed closer to the race

Route sheet

In race order, not to scale
  1. Leeds, The HeadrowSame start street as the 2014 men's Grand Départ
  2. Côte de KirkheatonCat ?About 1.7 km at 7.5%
  3. Côte de MelthamCat ?About 3.2 km at 8.2% · The longest climb of the day
  4. Côte de DelphCat ?About 2.1 km at 6.3% · Over the Pennines into Greater Manchester
  5. ManchesterFinish for the sprinters

Cat ? means the category is announced on 22 October. Climb figures are approximate until the official race guide.

Where to watch

An 85.7 km opener built for the sprinters. The start on The Headrow or the finish in Manchester are the places to be.

Base towns

Pick one to see places to stay

Plan aheadManchester is Friday's finish and Saturday's start. Two nights in one bed covers both.

Getting there and road closures

Leeds and Manchester are about an hour apart by direct train. Leeds station is a short walk from the start on The Headrow.

Host councils publish road closure times and park and ride plans in the months before the race. We add them here as they come out.

Stage 1 questions

Where is the best place to watch Stage 1 of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes?

This 85.7 km opener suits the sprinters, so the start on The Headrow in Leeds and the finish in Manchester are the places to be. The Côte de Meltham, the longest climb of the day, is the pick if you want to see the riders on a hill.

Can I watch the start in Leeds and the finish in Manchester on the same day?

Yes. Direct trains between Leeds and Manchester take about 50 minutes to an hour, and the riders need over two hours for 85.7 km. Leave soon after the start.

Where should I stay for the Femmes Grand Départ in Leeds?

Stay in Leeds city centre, close to The Headrow, on Thursday night. It is the same start street used for the 2014 men's Grand Départ.

Where should I stay if I also want to see Stage 2?

Manchester. It is Friday's finish and Saturday's start, so two nights in one bed covers both stages.

· Sources: letour.fr, Velora, 2027 Femmes UK route analysis