Visit Wales WTM
Visit Wales Announces Historic Year of Cycling for 2027
The year-long programme will see Wales host its first-ever stage of the Tour de France, opening up new itinerary and package opportunities for the travel trade
3 November 2026, World Travel Market, UK inbound Pavilion, London – Visit Wales has announced 2027 as the ‘Year of Cycling’ as the country prepares to host the Tour de France for the first time, with the third stage and climax of the Grand Départ on Sunday 4 July 2027, from Y Trallwng (Welshpool) to Caerdydd (Cardiff) – putting Wales centre stage for the global travel industry. The route will include seven categorised climbs and an intermediate sprint approaching Llandrindod (Llandrindod Wells).
The year-long programme introduces a first-of-its-kind interactive mapping tool that showcases destinations, attractions and detours along Wales’ cycling routes, a practical resource for operators and agents selling to everyone, from keen cyclists to Tour spectators and those simply wanting to explore. It will also include projects with local businesses and communities, building on the £4.5 million Croeso i Feicwyr Fund announced in 2026 to improve cycling facilities and routes across Wales.
The Tour de France is expected to bring more than one million visitors to Wales wishing to catch a glimpse of the racers during the Grand Départ. The stage is additionally set to reach a global television audience of around 150 million viewers in 190 countries.
Cardiff-born Geraint Thomas OBE, Wales’ Cycling Ambassador, the first Welshman to win the Tour de France in 2018 and two-time Olympic champion, said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be Wales’ Cycling Ambassador as we prepare for the 2027 Tour de France. The Tour coming to Wales is massive, these roads, these climbs and these fans are made for cycling, and now the world gets to see that. I can’t wait to play my part in welcoming the Tour, inspiring riders young and old, and helping make this a moment Wales will never forget.”
For tour operators and travel agents, 2027 brings a significant opportunity – from including short cycling day tours into Wales breaks and holidays, event packages built around the Grand Départ, to guided and self-guided cycling holidays, with ideas and information available via dedicated trade platform https://traveltrade.visitwales.com/, with demand expected to extend well beyond the summer and into the shoulder seasons.
To showcase the Welsh Grand Départ route to the travel industry and consumers, Visit Wales has created a unique installation made entirely from bike parts, attracting interest in the UK and internationally.
Ready-made routes with ‘Only in Wales’ experiences include:
Wales offers an endless array of cycling routes with unique activities to enjoy along the way, and local bike hire options that make them easy to package for clients. Please find a small sample of options below:
Taff Trail: The 55-mile (93km), largely traffic-free route between Cardiff Bay and Brecon passes Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch and Cyfarthfa Castle. The trail can be ridden in sections, and in either direction, making it easy to tailor to different abilities and itinerary lengths, from Cardiff’s green parks to the northern mountains, waterfalls and reservoirs. The route includes the market town of Brecon, where visitors can ride the Brecon Mountain Railway and explore Brecon Cathedral and Y Gaer Museum and Art Gallery.
Bike hire available through Pedal Power
Mawddach Trail: The 9-mile (15km) ride between Dolgellau and Barmouth follows a former railway line along the Mawddach Estuary in Eryri (Snowdonia), with mountain, woodland and water views linking the market town with the seaside resort to sample locally produced food and drink at traditional pubs, cafés and restaurants.
Bike hire available through Dolgellau Cycles
Mountain Biking, for example: between Cardiff and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park is Bike Park Wales, offering the UK's greatest and most diverse selection of all-weather mountain bike trails and an uplift service, offering an exhilarating experience for groups and individuals of all abilities.
Bike hire available through Bike Park Wales.
Tywi Valley: The traffic-free 13-mile (21km) Tywi Valley Path links Carmarthen and Llandeilo. The route offers easy cycling (or walking) through scenic countryside and rural landscapes. Cyclists or walkers can add mountain detours, including the Black Mountain climb and Cadw’s castles including Carreg Cennen Castle, as well as gardens such as Aberglasney and the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Bike hire available through Brompton Bike Hire
Responsible for tourism in Welsh Government, Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said:
"Our terrain is a world class asset, and this is our chance to turn Wales's natural landscape, our existing cycling opportunities and this extraordinary international exposure into a stronger, more resilient visitor economy. That's why we're launching our Year of Cycling, to make sure the benefits of hosting the Tour de France reach far beyond a single weekend in July and help position Wales as a premier year-round cycling destination for visitors and residents alike."
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For dedicated travel trade information, please visit traveltrade.visitwales.com including:
· Traffic-free family friendly cycling routes | Travel Trade Wales
· Experience cycling and mountain biking | Travel Trade Wales
· Inspiring places in Wales to explore by road bike | Visit Wales
For travel trade enquiries, including itinerary support and familiarisation visit opportunities, please contact the dedicated Visit Wales team traveltradewales@gov.wales