Fred Wright sees the 2027 UK Grand Départ as "exactly what we need for cycling in the UK at the moment, another revival"
Cycling
The news of 2027 Tour de France returning to UK spread like fire and all the home cyclists are already marking the race in their calendars, in two years' advance. Considering the recent low blows UK cycling had suffered, this is a spark of hope that the future will be bright again, riders believe.
"It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it," Fred Wright told Cycling Weekly. "To do that and be a part of that in my career would be a dream come true, actually. My very early experience of the Tour was watching it when it came to London. When it starts in the UK again, I’d love to be there. I think if everything goes to plan then I would think that’s exactly what we need for cycling in the UK at the moment, another revival sort of thing."
Joshua Tarling
For Joshua Tarling, it may be a tad bit disappointing that the organisers don't plan to hold a timetrial on the Isles, a discipline in which he could shine on home roads. In any case he's mostly looking forward to the cycling's biggest event making its way back to the UK, especially with the unsettling loss of free-to-air Tour de France broadcast.
"I hope I can be there, it would be a proud moment for sure," Ineos Grenadiers' Tarling added. To broaden the sport's base is one of the effects he hopes the Tour will have in the UK. "I think it will inspire more people on the outside of the sport to get involved."
Pfeiffer Georgi
If the excitement can be fathomable within the men's bunch, you don't need to go far to imagine what the first-ever Grand Départ of Tour de France Femmes in UK means for the ladies. Pfeiffer Georgi recalls standing by the road during the previous TdF Grand Départ in 2014 and hopes to now make such strong memories from the saddle in two years' time.
"I remember watching the men’s Tour when it came to Yorkshire in 2014, and I saw how crazy the support was, so I can’t wait to experience that myself," she said. "It’s always special racing in the UK and I’m really excited to see the full details of the stages, but this announcement definitely motivates me to be in the best shape possible for the start of the Tour."
"I also hope that it can inspire more young girls to start riding a bike, and I know first hand how much impact events like this can have, as I was hugely inspired by watching some of my idols at the London 2012 Olympics," Georgi concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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