Revealed: How Welshpool ‘won’ the Tour de France

Welshpool clinched its place in sporting history as the first Welsh town that will host a leg of the Tour de France after organisers were won over by the area’s stunning landscape during a helicopter ride.

The event is tagged as the world’s biggest spectator event, with millions lining the two-week route.

And in July 2027, it will spend its first three days in Scotland, England and then Wales for a leg that that will start in Berriew Street Car Park, Welshpool, and finish at Cardiff Castle.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the Powys part of the Welsh route, with Welshpool and its surrounding area set to benefit from a huge marketing and economic boost.

But it almost didn’t happen. MyWelshpool understands that the route was originally going to be shorter, and start further south in the county.

However, after a helicopter ride over Welshpool revealed one of the most spectacular landscapes in Britain, there was only going to be one announcement – it will start in the town!

Diane Reynolds, Director of Economic Development & Growth at Powys County Council, told councillors at the latest full Town Council meeting, that it was “a helicopter ride over Welshpool that clinched the Tour de France”.

“It (the Welsh leg) was going to be shorter and the start wasn’t going to be in Welshpool, but we worked very hard with Welsh Government and invited the representatives from France over. They took a helicopter journey over (Welshpool) and said it was so beautiful that they wanted to start here and not shorten the route, which is fantastic,” said Ms Reynolds.

The stage will be 223km long (almost 139 miles) and depart Welshpool on July 4 at 11am.