Cycling and civic leaders in Britain have called on the UK government to invest £30 million in community cycling facilities ahead of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs.

An open letter to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was signed by representatives from British Cycling, Grand Départ GB 2027, Scottish Cycling, Beicio Cymru, and key start and finish host locations for the 2027 events. The signatories are calling for targeted capital investment in communities where demand for cycling facilities is high but provision remains limited.

The proposed funding would support the development of safe and accessible places to ride and help create a lasting legacy from the 2027 Grand Départs. The signatories said the investment would also help people improve their health, build confidence on a bike, connect with their communities and access an affordable form of transport.

In 2027, the men’s and women’s Tours de France will both start in Britain, making it the first country outside France to host the Grand Départs of both events. The two races will visit 10 host towns and cities across Britain.

The men’s Tour de France will start in Edinburgh on July 2. The first stage will finish in Carlisle, followed by a stage from Keswick to Liverpool and a third stage from Welshpool to Cardiff.

The Tour de France Femmes will start in Leeds on July 30. Manchester will host the finish of the opening stage and the start of stage two, which will travel across the Peak District to Sheffield. The third stage will take place entirely in London and will feature the race’s first-ever team time trial.

The signatories said a pipeline of cycling facility projects is already ready for investment, with many linked to Tour de France host cities and regions, including areas with high levels of deprivation. They also said Manchester City Council and Edinburgh City Council have already ringfenced capital funding that could be deployed alongside government support.

The proposal builds on the Places to Ride programme, which received £15 million in government funding between 2019 and 2024 and supported more than 150 projects across England. According to British Cycling, the programme generated almost £268 million in social value and an estimated £32.9 million in NHS savings.

BikeBiz reported that 83% of Places to Ride projects focused on children and young people, while 41% targeted women and girls, 35% supported people on lower incomes, and 41% engaged disabled people or people living with long-term health conditions.

In Scotland, investment linked to the legacy of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has already supported 50 facilities, generating more than £48 million in social value and unlocking additional investment.

Lee Gibbons, Interim Group Chief Executive of British Cycling, said the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départs represent an opportunity to inspire millions of people and showcase Britain to the world, while ensuring the legacy extends beyond the races through investment in safe and accessible places to ride.

The signatories also said government backing could unlock significant match funding from local authorities and partners, helping accelerate the delivery of cycling facility projects and extend the benefits of the 2027 Grand Départs beyond the races themselves.

Photo: British Cycling