Report by Local Democracy Reporter – Jon Cooper
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed to accept up to £2.4 million of funding to support plans for the county to host part of a key stage of the Tour de France Femmes women’s cycle race in 2027 which comes to Great Britain before heading to France.
The Cabinet approved acceptance of the East Midlands Combined County Authority funding during a meeting on July 30 to help the council prepare to host Stage 2 of the 2027 women’s race which passes through Derbyshire’s Peak District on Saturday, July 31, next year.
County Council Leader, Cllr Alan Graves, told the meeting: “It’s a very exciting part of the next stage and it shows we are very serious about the Tour de France (Femmes) and we will be holding it in Derbyshire.”
He added: “This is the first section of funding to make sure everything is in place.”
The United Kingdom has been selected to host the Grand Départ events for the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in 2027 and for the start of the Tour de France 2027 men’s race which means this will be the first time that both races will start in the same country outside of France.
The overall Tour de France Femmes 2027 stage race includes a three-day Grand Départ section with three stages in Great Britain including Derbyshire before it heads to France.
This will feature a first stage between Leeds and Manchester on July 30, 2027, a second stage between Manchester and Sheffield including Derbyshire’s Peak District on July 31, 2027, and a final stage team time trial on August 1, 2027, in London.
Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, on Saturday, July 31, 2027, travels from Manchester to Sheffield via Derbyshire’s scenic tourist hotspot the Peak District including the county’s notoriously steep Winnat’s Pass, near Castleton, and the winding Snake Pass, near Glossop.
EMCCA also confirmed that the cyclists will be passing through Derbyshire towns and villages such as New Mills, Whaley Bridge, Buxton, Tideswell, Castleton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Glossop en route from Manchester to Sheffield.
The Manchester to Sheffield via Derbyshire Tour de France Femmes Stage 2 of the 2027 race will also feature almost 3,000metres of climbing and has been dubbed by some to be a particularly tough challenge.
Derbyshire County Council stated that hosting Stage 2 of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes women’s cycle race presents a unique opportunity to showcase Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park to a global audience.
The event is expected to deliver economic, tourism and community benefits by generating visitor expenditure, increasing media exposure for the county and supporting a programme of community engagement activities.
It will also provide opportunities to promote cycling, active travel and healthier lifestyles, according to the council, and to encourage greater participation in sport and physical activity.
In addition, the council hopes the event will bring communities together through volunteering, community engagement and celebration activities, helping people feel connected to their area while promoting community pride.
The East Midlands Combined County Authority secured funding to support the delivery of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départ 2027 in the East Midlands and offered the council a Grand Départ Derbyshire Stage Grant of up to £2.4m.
The funding will contribute towards the cost of hosting Derbyshire’s part of Stage 2 of the women’s race in 2027 including event planning and delivery, traffic management, operational requirements, community engagement activity and other arrangements to ensure a successful event.
However, any necessary highway maintenance and carriageway improvement works on the route will be funded separately through the council’s existing highways capital maintenance programme, supported by Transport for City Regions funding.
The council’s Cabinet officially voted at its latest meeting at County Hall, in Matlock, to approve acceptance of the Derbyshire Stage Grant of up to £2.4m from EMCCA to support Derbyshire’s hosting of Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2027 race, on Saturday, July 31, 2027.
A council spokesperson added: “The event will showcase Derbyshire and the Peak District to a global audience, raising the profile of the county as a visitor destination and supporting the local visitor economy.
“It is expected to generate economic benefits for local businesses through increased visitor spend and media exposure.
“The event also aligns with the council’s objectives to improve travel choices and encourage cycling and walking, while celebrating Derbyshire’s natural environment and world-renowned landscapes.”
The council also stated that the event supports its ambition to bring investment into Derbyshire and to work with the EMCCA to boost economic growth.
EMCCA Mayor Claire Ward said: “To have the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift riding through the Peak District is a fantastic moment for our region.
“In 2027 these iconic roads will showcase Derbyshire at its best – and give residents a front-row view of the world’s top riders.
“With huge crowds expected to line the streets and millions more watching coverage around the world, this will put the East Midlands in the spotlight and bring a real boost for local businesses – from cafés and pubs to hotels, shops and visitor attractions.
“We’re working with partners to welcome visitors and ensure this moment leaves a lasting legacy – inspiring more people to cycle and helping our communities benefit long after the peloton has passed.”
Race director Marion Rousse said the United Kingdom has already shown its passion for the Tour and that the latest British stages of the race will once again ‘showcase the energy of the crowds, the beauty of the landscapes and the growing importance of women’s cycling on the world stage’.
