A coalition of cycling and local authority representatives has written an open letter to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calling for £30m of UK Government investment to develop community cycling facilities across Britain.
The funding proposal aims to build a lasting infrastructure legacy from the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs. Next year, Britain will become the first nation outside France to host both events, with over 10 million spectators expected along the route.
British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in Great Britain, signed the letter alongside representatives from Grand Départ GB 2027, Scottish Cycling, Beicio Cymru, and key host locations such as Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cumberland, Sheffield, and Leeds.
Organisers of the 2027 Grand Départs are currently delivering a social impact programme. This includes recruiting more than 9,000 volunteer JOY Makers, establishing a schools engagement programme, supporting young people through a Readiness to Work initiative, and running targeted schemes to encourage girls to cycle.
The requested capital investment would fund safe, accessible places to ride, aiming to improve public health and provide affordable transport options.
The proposal follows the original Places to Ride programme, which was backed by £15m of UK Government funding between 2019 and 2024. That initiative supported over 150 projects across England, generating almost £268m in social value and an estimated £32.9m in NHS savings, according to British Cycling.
Within the previous Places to Ride scheme, 83% of projects focused on children and young people, 41% targeted women and girls, 35% supported people on lower incomes, and 41% engaged disabled people or those with long-term health conditions.
In Scotland, legacy investment from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships supported 50 facilities, generating more than £48m in social value. The signatories noted that new UK Government backing could unlock additional match funding from local authorities and commercial partners.
Lee Gibbons, Interim Group Chief Executive at British Cycling, said “The Tour de France Grand Départs in 2027 represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inspire millions of people and showcase Britain to the world.
“We want to ensure the legacy extends far beyond the race itself. Investment in safe and accessible places to ride would help more people enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of cycling while creating healthier and more connected communities.
“We have a pipeline of projects ready to deliver and the evidence is clear that investment in cycling facilities delivers significant returns for society, public health and local economies.”
Related posts:
UCI releases 2026 HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup calendar
British Cycling to stream Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships, for a fee, on YouTube
Race directors unveiled for Lloyds Tour of Britain women’s and men’s races
British Cycling appoints Professor Pete Bonfield OBE as Chief Executive
