British Cycling is pleased to today announce its support for the UK Government’s bid to host the 2026 Tour de France Grand Depart, ahead of the Chancellor’s announcement at tomorrow’s Budget and Spending Review.

In total £30 million of funding will be committed to support bids for the Grand Depart and 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, with the bid deadline for both in early-2022.

The planned Grand Depart would include stages in England, Scotland, and Wales, giving people across the country a chance to watch the sport’s biggest event, with 95% of the investment in hosting the stages benefitting areas outside of the South East of England, supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda.

British Cycling CEO, Brian Facer, said:

“The 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart in Yorkshire was an unforgettable celebration of our sport and is still talked about to this day, inspiring a new generation of cyclists. More importantly, those few days showcased our country’s credentials as one of the world’s best cycling nations, and we’re delighted to be supporting the UK Government’s bid to bring the sport’s showpiece event back to these shores in 2026.

“The Tour de France will bring significant economic benefit and investment to our communities, rapturous crowds on the roadside and a tangible legacy to get even more people riding more often throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

“We now look forward to working alongside the UK Government, devolved administrations and UK Sport to deliver a compelling vision for the 2026 Grand Depart, which aligns with the event organiser Amaury Sport Organisation’s aspirations, and builds on our proud track record of hosting the sport’s biggest global event.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said:

“I’m excited at the prospect of bringing more world class sporting events to the UK. That’s why I’m backing these British bids, with over £40m of funding to make our case.”

“Our bids will include events taking place across the country, and I’m hopeful that everyone will get a chance to cheer on their sporting heroes.”

Research on the 2014 Grand Depart – which included three stages taking in Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and London – showed that the event generated approximately £130million for the host region economies and was watched at the roadside by 3.5m people.

In total it attracted 113,000 visitors from outside the UK and 92% of spectators who watched the Yorkshire stages felt the Tour had been positive for the region