With one year to go until the Tour de France visits Cumbria, Cumberland Council is encouraging residents to sign up to be volunteer and be part of the historic event.
A Stage One finish in Carlisle and a Stage Two start in Keswick is confirmed for the 2027 Tour De France.
Set to be the largest free sporting spectacle in British history, the men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle the same day, before stage two travels from Keswick on Saturday 3 July 2027 - through the Lake District and Lancashire to finish on The Strand in Liverpool the same day.
The Tour de France (TdF) is the world’s biggest annual sporting event. The race attracts 10-12 million live spectators each year. It is broadcast on television in over 180 countries and has a TV viewership of 150m in Europe alone.
The 2014 Grand Départ in Yorkshire generated an estimated £131 million in economic benefits.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Tour de France to not only one venue but two in Cumberland. We will be hosting a start and a finish event, over two stages and two days. An ideal opportunity to make a visit and enjoy a long weekend of sporting excellence. We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world in summer 2027.”
The search is now underway for thousands of volunteers to help bring one of the world’s biggest sporting events to life.
Applications are open for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Départs in summer 2027.
Around 9,000 volunteers are being recruited across Scotland, England and Wales to play a key role in the event. Known as ‘JOY Makers’, these volunteers will be at the heart of the races, helping to create a welcoming atmosphere for spectators, supporting event logistics and ensuring everything runs smoothly across all six stages.
Applications are now open for anyone interested in getting involved, with opportunities available across all six stages of the event. Registrations remain open until Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places at Cumberland Council added:
“This is a unique opportunity to be part of a historic event and to help put Cumberland at the centre of one of the world’s most iconic sporting occasions.
“Volunteers will play an important role in supporting the Grand Départs, helping to create a welcoming experience for visitors and ensuring the event runs smoothly. It will also be an opportunity to bring people together and showcase Cumberland to a global audience, and we’d encourage anyone interested to find out more and consider getting involved.”
To find out more and apply, visit www.letourgb.com/volunteer