Tour de France 2027 – Can Yorkshire Do It Again?

The news is finally confirmed this week - the Tour de France will return to the UK in 2027, with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (the official title with presenting sponsor Zwift) also starting on British roads. For Yorkshire, it marks a hugely significant moment: the women’s race will begin in our home county, while the men’s Tour once again brings the world’s biggest cycling spectacle back to the UK.

The men’s race will travel through Scotland, England and Wales - from Edinburgh to Carlisle, then Keswick to Liverpool, and finally Welshpool to Cardiff - while the women’s race starts in Leeds before heading to Manchester, Sheffield and a showpiece finale in London. If you’re heading out to watch, our RUFFNEK® flag snoods are a simple way to show support for the home nations and home counties (Yorkshire & Lancashire) from the roadside, and a great souvenir of the event.

For anyone who remembers 2014, this announcement feels instantly familiar - and just as exciting.

Remembering the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Depart

When the Tour de France last came to Yorkshire in 2014, it exceeded every expectation. Millions lined the roads across Leeds, Harrogate, the Dales and beyond, creating scenes that were described as unlike anything cycling had ever seen before. Entire villages turned out, dry stone walls were packed with spectators, the famous image from Buttertubs Pass became iconic, and the atmosphere rivalled - if not surpassed - many French mountain stages.

It wasn’t just a sporting event. It was a cultural moment.

Many spectators still remember the conditions of 2014 - long roadside waits, early starts, and unpredictable Yorkshire weather. It’s exactly those kinds of days we design our lightweight RUFFNEK® cycling snoods for: breathable, easy to layer, and comfortable whether you’re cycling, spectating, or both.

That legacy matters. The success of 2014 proved that Yorkshire doesn’t just host cycling - it lives it. As the countdown to 2027 begins, the big question being asked is simple: can it be as good?

We would argue it could be even better.

Two Races, One Grand Depart, One Cycling Nation

What makes 2027 truly special is that it isn’t just about the men’s Tour. For the first time, the UK will host the Grand Depart for both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes - a powerful reflection of how the sport has evolved since 2014.

Both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes will deliver world-class racing, global attention, and unforgettable moments on British roads. Together, they showcase the depth, quality, and momentum of professional cycling at the very highest level.

Map Image Credit: Tour de france | UKSport.gov.uk

Yorkshire, Women’s Cycling, and the Next Generation

Yorkshire’s connection to women’s cycling runs deep, and few riders reflect that legacy more clearly than Lizzie Deignan MBE. A former world champion and Olympic medallist, Lizzie has inspired countless riders through an illustrious career, helping pave the way for today’s generation and reinforcing Yorkshire’s reputation for producing world-class talent.

A Homecoming for Rising Stars

Looking ahead to 2027, Yorkshire fans may have a new name to rally behind - and one we’re keeping a close eye on: Cat Ferguson.

While team selections for 2027 are yet to be officially confirmed, all signs point to Ferguson being one of Britain’s most exciting prospects. A North Yorkshire native, double junior world champion, and now a winner in her first full professional season, she represents the next chapter of British women’s cycling. With a long-term WorldTour contract in place and rapid progression through the ranks, a Tour de France Femmes Grand Depart on home roads would be a natural and hugely symbolic target.

She is part of a broader wave of British talent coming through the women’s peloton. Riders such as Zoe Bäckstedt (Wales), already a world champion across multiple disciplines, and Imogen Wolff (South Yorkshire), another talented Yorkshire rider who has impressed at WorldTour level at a young age, underline the depth and strength now present in women’s road cycling.

On the men’s side, British riders continue to feature at the very highest level. With the recent retirement of Geraint Thomas (Wales) and Simon Yates (Lancashire), experience and leadership remain in the peloton through riders such as Adam Yates (Lancashire) - Simon’s twin brother - a former Tour de France podium finisher who continues to play a key role at the top of the sport.

Alongside them, riders like Tom Pidcock (Leeds, Yorkshire) and Oscar Onley (Kelso, Scotland) point to a new generation building on that legacy - combining versatility, ambition, and genuine Grand Tour potential.

For local fans, it’s exactly these stories - home roads, emerging talent, and established British names - that make the crowds louder and the occasion even more special.

Why 2027 Matters to Us at RUFFNEK®

At RUFFNEK®, cycling has always been part of our story from the start. Designed in Yorkshire and tested on Yorkshire roads, our technical cycling snoods are made for riders who train through changeable conditions and spend long days in the saddle (on and off road).

If you’re watching from the roadside, a lightweight snood is also an easy extra layer to pack, and our flag designs are ideal for showing support as the race moves through Scotland, England and Wales. We also offer Yorkshire and Lancashire county flags alongside our home nations designs.

The return of the Tour de France, alongside the arrival of the Tour de France Femmes, feels genuinely significant. It reflects Yorkshire’s long-standing connection to cycling, the growing presence of women’s racing, and the way events like this inspire people well beyond the professional peloton - from club riders to those simply watching from the roadside.

That same connection to the sport is reflected in the cycling-specific designs we’ve developed over the years, from Yorkshire-inspired pieces to designs that nod to the Tour de France and the World Champion’s rainbow bands. You can explore our cycling designs here.

Can 2027 Match 2014?

The crowds of 2014 set an almost impossible benchmark. But Yorkshire’s love of cycling is unchanged - what has grown is the scale of the sport and the number of people it now inspires.

With two races, a new generation of riders, and a county that already knows how to deliver something unforgettable, 2027 has every chance of being just as special - if not more so.

Yorkshire did it once. There’s no doubt it can do it again.

Further reading: UK host towns and cities confirmed (UK Sport) | Grand Depart Great Britain 2027 (Le Tour) | Yorkshire Sport announcement  Credit: Tour de France