“We’re looking at big population centres – London, Glasgow, Cardiff" - Tour de France set for Great Britain return?

After the 10-year anniversary of the last British Grand Depart of the Tour de France from Yorkshire, British Cycling are ready, keen and willing to do whatever it takes to bring the biggest race on the calendar back across the French Sea to Britannia.

“The Tour de France would have a hugely positive impact, it would create incredible visibility and it would allow all partners to deliver more social value over a period of time,” British Cycling chief Jon Dutton says in conversation with City A.M. “It wouldn’t just be about the race coming and going, there’s a massive cycle tourism aspect. It’s not our decision but it is why events are so important, and that they can be delivered in a financially sustainable way more than the sum of the parts."

Despite the financial difficulties that have plagued cycling in Britain of late with some riders from the 2023 Tour of Britain still waiting for prize money and Team GB not sending a team to the European Championships, Dutton insists that bringing the Tour de France to the nation is financially viable. “The cost is still in the process of being worked through [with UK Sport] but we would definitely be within our means and prepared to step up and support against the value of just getting more people on a bike,” he explains. 

So where would be the ideal location for a Grand Depart of cycling's biggest race? “We would love to come to London,” Dutton says. “We’re looking at big population centres – London, Glasgow, Cardiff and more. We are doing a mapping exercise at the moment on the Tour of Britain to look at areas we haven’t been to previously. Hopefully we can reach more people in more places. The Tour de France is a commercial organisation and so it is a project led by UK Sport. But off the back of the Grand Depart in 2014, which I was personally involved in, and seeing the millions of people come to the side of the road and the reach across the geography of the UK, we are fully supportive [of its return]."

City A.M. also spoke to a UK Sport spokesperson, who confirmed talks remain ongoing. “The Tour de France does not have a formal bid process or deadline and any decisions on future international hosts of the Grand Depart is at the sole discretion of the organiser [the ASO],” they conclude.