"We won't charge for any tickets" - Giro boss promises free 2027 access while Tour de France presentation tickets reach £99

The Giro d'Italia will remain free for spectators in 2027, with new RCS Sport cycling director Luca Guercilena promising that fans will not have to pay to attend the team presentation or watch the race on its most famous climbs. His commitment comes as the Tour de France prepares for a British Grand Depart where tickets to its Edinburgh Castle opening ceremony and rider presentation have cost as much as £99.

Guercilena, overseeing his first Giro since taking charge of RCS Sport's cycling operations, made the pledge following the unveiling of the 110th edition's route in Rome.

"The Giro will be free for all fans watching from the roadside, and we won't charge for any tickets, whether it's to watch the team presentation or to see the race pass on the most beautiful climbs," he told Bicisport.

There is one qualification, however, particularly relevant to the Giro's return to some of Italy's most demanding mountain roads. "We cannot rule out limiting the number of spectators at certain critical points where their safety, or that of the riders, could be compromised," Guercilena added.

The 2027 Giro features seven uphill finishes, with the Gavia, two ascents of the Mortirolo and a penultimate-day showdown on Monte Zoncolan among the highlights. The prospect of huge crowds gathering on those climbs presents a different challenge from deciding whether spectators should pay to attend.

The Tour de France's opening celebrations begin on Wednesday 30 June 2027, two days before the peloton sets off from Edinburgh for the first stage of the British Grand Depart.

The traditional rider presentation will form part of a special ceremony on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, produced by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Alongside the introduction of the competing teams, the programme will feature Highland dancers, massed pipes and drums, and specially commissioned music.

Fans wanting to attend the seated ceremony were offered tickets at £27, £59, £79 and £99, depending on their choice of seats. The organisers confirmed on 30 October that the event had sold out, following considerable demand during the advance sales.

The decision represents a change from the last three men's Tour de France team presentations, which were free to attend. Edinburgh's event, however, is also being marketed as a larger entertainment production rather than simply a conventional introduction of the peloton.

Supporters who missed out on tickets, or did not wish to pay, will still have an opportunity to see the riders. All 184 competitors are scheduled to travel from Holyrood Palace along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle ahead of the ceremony, with the procession free to watch and no reservation required. Roadside viewing will also remain free when the Tour begins on 2 July and travels through Scotland, England and Wales during its opening three stages.

Guercilena did not criticise ASO or its Edinburgh arrangements in his interview. His comments concern RCS Sport's own spectator policy, with the Giro retaining free access to its team presentation as well as the racing itself.

The contrast is nevertheless notable, particularly after the attention surrounding Edinburgh's ticket prices. While the Tour's opening ceremony has sold out despite seats reaching £99, the Giro intends to maintain the free presentation format for its 2027 edition.

The Giro's penultimate stage on 29 May will finish on Monte Zoncolan, with the peloton approaching from the notoriously steep Ovaro side. Its narrow road, punishing gradients and reputation as one of cycling's most difficult climbs make it an obvious attraction for spectators during the final weekend.

Guercilena has not confirmed whether access to the Zoncolan will be restricted, but RCS Sport already has experience of limiting crowds at one of its other major races.

During the 2026 edition of Il Lombardia, access to the San Fermo della Battaglia climb was controlled, with spectators required to register for free. A designated fan area was also established at the foot of the climb, allowing the organisers to manage numbers on the ascent while maintaining free admission.

That approach offers a possible model for the Giro, although no equivalent arrangements have been announced for the Zoncolan or other climbs on next year's route.

The penultimate stage is not the only occasion when large crowds are expected. Stage 16, from Sondrio to Aprica, features 5,700 metres of climbing across 192 kilometres, including the Gavia and two ascents of the Mortirolo.

The Giro will also visit the Misano Adriatico and Mugello motor-racing circuits, where free spectator access is planned despite the more controlled environments normally associated with those venues.

For fans hoping to watch the decisive mountain stages, the remaining uncertainty concerns where they might be allowed to stand rather than how much admission will cost. RCS has not yet identified the sections that could require capacity limits, with the final arrangements for the Giro's return to the Zoncolan still to be determined.