Published: Monday, 20th April 2026
Details of the route set to be taken by riders competing in next year's iconic Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been revealed.
It will see some of the best cyclists in the world pass through Oldham.
The starting and finishing points of the historic first-ever visit of the women's race to Britain were revealed back in January, with Manchester announced as host city for both the Stage One finish on Friday 30 July 2027 and the Stage Two start the day after, on Saturday 31 July.
Full routes have now been revealed for the two stages of the 2027 Grand Départ as the race leaves host city Leeds, before heading through Yorkshire and into Greater Manchester, where it will weave its way through Rochdale and Oldham into Manchester city centre, before going back out of Manchester via Stockport and Derbyshire to the finish in Sheffield - delivering two challenging and visually spectacular days of racing.
Together, the stages form the opening chapter of a historic moment for the sport as next year sees both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift both begin in the United Kingdom - the first time both Grand Départs have taken place in the same country outside France.
In another historic first for the race London will also play host a landmark moment in women's cycling with the first-ever team time trial in the history of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift taking place on the streets of capital.
It will see the world's best riders racing together against the clock in their seven-rider teams via a central London circuit of approximately 18-kilometres, passing many of the capital's popular landmarks and culminating in a spectacular finish on The Mall.
Hosting both Tours in the UK next year is expected to inspire participation at every level, and together with a special social impact programme, Joy, which will run alongside the Tours, is forecast to deliver a lasting impact beyond 2027.
Focused on improving health and wellbeing, skills development and connecting communities, Joy will create an opportunity for young people to develop and showcase their skills, whilst bringing together community groups to showcase and celebrate their local area.
This includes here in Manchester where - as host city - Manchester will work alongside partners in Oldham, Rochdale and Stockport, as well as GMCA, TfGM, British Cycling and others to ensure the Tour de France Femmes delivers a lasting impact.
A volunteer programme will also offer hundreds of people from Greater Manchester and thousands more across the country, the chance to be part of these historic sporting events - which together are set to be the largest free-to-watch sporting event in UK history - and to contribute to their success.
Shelley Kipling, Chief Executive, Oldham Council, said: "Being part of Stage 1 of The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is such a fantastic moment for Oldham. The route will take the race through our beautiful towns, villages and countryside, putting our borough in front of a global audience and inspiring the next generation of cyclists.
"We’re incredibly proud to be part of such a prestigious international event and look forward to welcoming riders, teams and spectators to Oldham. I would encourage residents, community groups and businesses to look at the routes, get involved, and come out to support the riders when the race arrives. This is a chance for Oldham to be part of something truly special.”
The TDFF 2027 will see cyclists make their way through Oldham and Rochdale into Manchester city centre for the Stage One Finish on Friday 30 July, before the Stage Two depart from Manchester city centre the next day, with cyclists following a route that leaves the city centre, heading through south Manchester and Stockport, en route for the Stage Two finish in Sheffield.
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:
"Greater Manchester hosting the opening stages of the Tour de France Femmes is a huge opportunity for everyone who lives, works and will visit here during that time, and we are expecting excitement to grow even further, especially now we know the route the Grand Départ will take through our city-region.
"Seeing the competitors of the world’s biggest women’s cycling race right up close, as they weave their way through Manchester, Stockport, Rochdale and Oldham, will be incredibly inspiring for people of all ages and the benefits to local communities and future generations of riders will be far reaching. Hosting both a finish and a start means that everyone visiting the city centre will have an incredible opportunity to be close at hand to the pre and post-race action too, something that is truly unique in the sport of cycling.
"Hosting the first two days of the Grand Depart not only shines a global spotlight on women’s cycling, it boosts visibility for elite sport and the opportunities available that encourage more women and girls to see cycling as something for them. I’m excited to see the legacy of this historic event and with all the work being done in preparation for the arrival of "Le Tour", know it will be felt in Greater Manchester for years to come.”
The route details can be found below:
Stage one: Leeds to Manchester
Starting from the Headrow Leeds city centre on Friday 30 July, the first ever Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage to be held in Britain will pass through Headingley and the west of the city, crossing into Kirklees and passing through Heckmondwike and Mirfield, and tackling the Côte de Kirkheaton (1.7km at 7.5%), to reach Huddersfield.
The 85.7-kilometre (53.2 miles) route then drops south to cross the Pennines, taking in the Queen of the Mountains climb of Côte de Meltham (3.2km at 8.2%) in the north of the Peak District National Park before crossing into Oldham on the A635 and descending alongside Dove Stone Reservoir, through Greenfield and Uppermill.Riders will then tackle the Côte de Delph (2.1km at 6.3%) up to Grains Bar, which has featured in recent editions of both the men’s and women’s Tour of Britain, with just over 20 kilometres of racing remaining.
The tough nature of the climb here and its proximity to the finish could prove decisive in terms of who goes on to claim the opening stage win in Manchester city centre.
The route then circles the north of Greater Manchester, running alongside Chadderton Hall Park and into Rochdale, passing through the centre of Middleton, before turning south and running down Middleton Road, alongside Manchester's Heaton Park and into Manchester.
Sweeping through Cheetham Hill on Bury Old Road, the final kilometres of the stage will see riders racing into the city centre, past the AO Arena and Manchester Cathedral, to line-up for what is sure to be a thrilling stage finish on Deansgate.