What will the Tour de France mean for Edinburgh?

The announcement that the world's biggest cycle race will visit Scotland in 2027 is good news for fans of the sport.

Cyclists taking part in the 114th edition of the Tour de France will set off from Edinburgh, with the start of the women's race - the Tour de France Femmes - to begin at a different UK location which has still to be announced.

It is the first time both the men's and women's "Grand Départs" will be held in the same country. A full schedule for the event will be revealed in the autumn.

Scotland, England and Wales will share six stages of the cycling event: three each for the men's and women's races.

Organisers will be hoping the Tour brings crowds of supporters as well as major economic and social benefits to the capital when the cyclists speed through in July 2027.

The men's version of the world's most famous cycling race has come to the UK four times before, in 1974, 1994, 2007 and 2014.

These occasional appearances have proved very popular. Crowds at the roadside for the three English stages in 2014 were estimated at almost five million.

What's new in 2027 is this will be the first time both the men's and women's events have come to the same nation in the same year.

And it is the first time the Tour is coming to Scotland.

The decision to bring the Tour to Edinburgh builds on a number of recent cycling events in Scotland, including the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023.

That saw more than a million spectators turning out over 11 days of action.

And of course, Glasgow hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They will be back in the city in 2026.

The great thing about the Tour is it is free.

As with similar events, including the annual Tour of Britain, nobody will have to pay to see the cyclists, you will simply have to turn up and grab a space on the route.

Be warned, though, cycling fans are devoted to their sport and if you want a spot by the side of the road you will have to be prepared to get there early.

The last time the Tour came to Britain there was enormous interest, with more than two million people coming out to watch.

Cities and towns along the route saw crowds waiting patiently for the pelaton - the main group of riders - to pass.

A study of the economic and social impacts of hosting the Tour in Yorkshire in 2014 concluded that there were a number of major benefits from the two-day event, including:

• 2.3m visitors to the region.
• 200,000 people visiting York.
• A £102.3m positive economic impact for Yorkshire.
• £8.3m economic boost for York.
• £7m spend from visitors to York.
• 52% of attendees said they felt inspired to cycle more.
• A high interest in the event and the sport from younger people.

A decade on, the legacy of that weekend appeared to be positive.

There was even an annual cycling race set up - dubbed the Tour De Yorkshire - though that was cancelled after five years over funding issues and the effects of the Covid pandemic.

Edinburgh will certainly hope for some of these positive outcomes when it hosts the 2027 event.

Rob Dickson, director of industry and events at VisitScotland, said: "The announcement that the Tour de France is coming to the UK, with Edinburgh set to host the prestigious Grand Départ in 2027, is fantastic news.  

"As a world-class destination for tourism and events, Scotland's breathtaking landscapes, iconic venues, and rich history make it the perfect stage for the world's most famous bike race.

"With our renowned hospitality and passion for major events, we look forward to welcoming athletes and fans from around the globe. Major events like this not only showcase Scotland's stunning scenery but also inspire visitors to experience the thrill of cycling here for themselves."

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships was credited with bringing "significant economic benefits" to Scotland, including more than £205m of economic activity and the equivalent of 5,285 jobs created over a year.

An independent assessment credited the event with contributing to a "more sustainable society" in terms of promoting inclusion and accessibility and encouraging active travel.

That's certainly the hope of those who manage and promote the sport in Scotland.

Speaking at the announcement on Wednesday, Scottish Cycling chief executive Nick Rennie said it was "hard to underestimate" the scale of the announcement and the impact it would have on cycling in Scotland.

"For the Tour de France to not only visit, but start in Scotland, is a huge milestone, not only for cycling but for sport in Scotland," he said.

"Over the last decade, Scotland has continued to build a reputation as an outstanding major event host, with the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships further enhancing this.

"What that event 18 months ago did was raise people's awareness of the different types of cycling available, and that cycling is truly for everyone.

"With the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow next summer, and the Tour de France Grand Depart taking place in Edinburgh 12 months later, we really are in a golden era for cycling in Scotland."

Dougal Brown, from the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative shop in the city's Bruntsfield, was delighted by the announcement.

"I thought it was really good and it would definitely kick up a lot of interest in cycling. It would just be a really good time for everyone to see a competitive race rather than just people cycling around town," he said.

And he's excited about the event's potential to boost cycling as well as business.

"It happened with the London Olympic Games, so I can imagine something very similar happening again and with it starting in Edinburgh I can imagine it could be quite impactful."