Scotland’s capital is hosting the most northerly Grand Départ in Tour de France history, as it’s just a little bit further north than 2022 start city Copenhagen. Edinburgh has long-standing connections with a major cycling figure, Chris Hoy. He won endless titles on the track, amassing six Olympic gold medals and 11 world championship rainbow jerseys, achievements that earned him a knighthood. More recently, Edinburgh’s Sean Flynn competed in the 2025 Tour, while the promising Callum Thornley is poised to unleash his time trial power at the race. In 2023, the Scottish capital hosted the start of the race that concluded with Mathieu van der Poel being crowned world road champion in Glasgow.
- First-time stage town
- Capital of Scotland
- Population: 524,000
- edinburgh.gov.uk
