Tour de France expected to create cycling 'buzz'

The Tour de France’s 2027 route has been unveiled and is set to go through St Helens, Knowsley and Liverpool, raising hopes that the race will boost local cycling. Cycle shop manager Matthew Porter, from Evans Cycles in St Helens, said seeing top riders on nearby roads could encourage young people to try road bikes instead of only mountain bikes. The men’s race begins stage two on 3 July in Keswick in the Lake District, then covers a 223km (139-mile) route to a finish in central Liverpool. The course will pass multiple neighborhoods and landmarks, including Sefton Park and The Strand, with the stage finish in front of the Three Graces. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram called it a “special moment,” adding the event’s impact could last years.