CyclistGrand Colombier, Col du Portet and Normandy: Tour de France 2027 route rumoursIts barely been three months since Tadej Pogaar rounded out his fifth Tour de France victory, having beaten the Alpe dHuez record en route to another Grand Tour title. But now the road season is coming to a close, its time to think about next years race, which, of course, comes to British shores for the first time since 2014.The Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes routes will be revealed next week on Thursday October 22nd in Paris. While it has been kept secret by ASO apart from the British details the route has been widely speculated by the French press. Using their network of sources, local politicians and hotel bookings, many newspapers have pieced together the route for the 2027 race. Here, weve merged those leads to create a clearer picture of what next years Tour could look like.Week 1: UK to Normandy, then the BugeyOlly Hassell/SWpix.comThere are no surprises in store for the Tours opening three stages. They have been confirmed for some time now, with a cross-UK opening to the Tour confirmed between Friday 2nd July and Sunday 4th July in Scotland, England and Wales. All three stage routes have been revealed, with visits guaranteed to Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff throughout the three-day exploit on British roads.A rest day will come after Stage 3s finish in Cardiff. Thatll give the riders enough time to head across the Channel in time for Stage 4.Several Norman newspapers have reported the likelihood of a stage in Cherbourg, right at the north of the Cotentin peninsula, with Stage 4 expected. The profile is rumoured to be punchy, finishing in Cherbourg too, reportedly with the Ctede La Glacerie, previously used when Cherbourg last hosted the race in 2016.Another punchy stage is expected the day after, with a visit to Breton cycling staple Plumelec or Vannes rumoured. The Mr-de-Bretagne has been mentioned too, however.Xavier PereyronStage 7 has been suggested to be the first time-trial at this years race. The boozy town of Chambord has been near-confirmed as a venue by La Nouvelle Rpublique, which has noted a spike in hotel reservations by the UCI. The start town is supposedly Blois, which means this is likely to be a time-trial.Similar research by Le Berry Rpublicain shows that Bourges will host the start of the following stage. Its likely to take an easterly direction through the Morvan, past Uchon and to Le Creusot, which last held a mammoth Tour stage in 2021. Stage 9 remains in the east of the country. Lyonnais newspaper Le Progrsbelieves a stage is planned to take place fully within the Ain dpartement, possibly starting in Villard-les-Dombes or the nearby Parc des Oiseaux ahead of a summit finish at the Grand Colombier. The pyramid of the Bugey has featured on several Tours, most recently as a stage finish at the 2020 and 2023 editions. This summer, it hosted a stage finish at the renamed Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes. At 17km in length, the Grand Colombier should act as the first summit finish at this years Tour de France.Week 2: A short visit to the Alps and a punchy weekendXavier PereyronWe jump into the Alps right after the second rest day.In terms of Alpine location, the Tour is expected to be concentrated in the pocket toward Switzerland. Grenoble-based newspaper Le Dauphin has confirmed that the Isre dpartement wont be hosting a stage of next years race. That rules out the return of Alpe dHuez or the neighbouring climbs. The Col du Granon was also previously rumoured. Local reporters have refuted the claims and believe the bid will be in 2028 instead of next summer.Instead, Le Dauphin has suggested that the Tour de France will come to Haute-Savoie on Stage 10 in preparation for the 2027 UCI Super World Championships the following month. At this years Tour de France, it was reported that the area around Sallanches could host a stage finish in 2027. Its since been clarified that the Ctede Domancy will feature in the final part of the stage, just one month prior to its key role in the race for the rainbow jersey.Xavier PereyronStage 11 takes place on Bastille Day, and for the occasion a big day through the Savoyard Alps is expected. As per Le Dauphin, it will start from Cluses and end atop Les Saisies, a Tour newcomer. Geography dictates that the stage could include the Col de la Colombire and Col des Aravis en route to the finish. Its Bastille Day expect some big elevation numbers.The stint in the Alps is expected to be short this year. According to the local brand Ici, the Tour will leave the Alps from Chambry and head to Valence, a frequent Tour host town, the following day.The same Ici site believes Stage 13 is set to be hosted the following day in the Ardche, starting from Aubenas. Its likely to have a hilly start before a flat finish in Montpellier, close to the Mediterranean coast.The two final stages of week two look to cut across the country. Actu Occitanie believe Mende will play host to Stage 14. Its steep Cte de la Croix Neuve could provide the backdrop to the finish, as it did when Steve Cummings won a memorable stage on Mandela Day in 2015 and Michael Matthews claimed a solo win at the 2022 race.As for Stage 15, another hilly stage is on the cards, with Albi rumoured to be the destination.Week 3: Toulouse, Pyrenees and a tame final weekendXavier PereyronAfter the races final rest day, the riders are expected to be staying in Toulouse. After its long stint at the 2025 race, the pink city will welcome the Tour again according to Le Dauphin. A time-trial has been mentioned for Stage 16 to get the race restarted, but its length is unknown.The following day is said to start from Toulouse, as per Le Dauphin again, but with the aim of a sprint in familiar Tour territory: Pau.The Pyrenees look set to play host to the final GC battles of the 2027 Tour de France. If thats the case, it will see the mountain range act as the third-week showdown for the first time since 2022. Its time in the race, however, will be short, with Stages 18 and 19 the only ones expected to venture into the southern mountain range.Xavier PereyronThe Col du Portet is heavily rumoured to return in 2027, with La Rpublique suggesting a summit finish there on Stage 18. The climb has featured in two previous Tours, both as the scene of decisive GC stages. On its most recent visit, Tadej Pogaar took the win while wearing the yellow jersey. To reach its summit in 2027, the riders will have to face the Aubisque, Tourmalet and Hourquette dAncizan beforehand, according to Le Dauphin.Laruns has been mentioned as a potential finish to Stage 19, the last in the Pyrenees. The town is in close proximity to the Col de la Marie Blanque, which has featured on previous Laruns visits in 2020 and 2023. On both of those occasions, the stage resulted in a yellow jersey change, most recently when Jai Hindley took the maillot jaune for a day during the 2023 edition.As for the final weekend, expect to see a sprinters day on Stage 20, likely ending in Libourne if the Dauphin is to be believed. Its then off to Paris for the now customary visit to Montmartre ahead of the Champs-Elyses.Expected routes: our thoughts?Xavier PereyronWere over a week away from knowing the route for real and casting a real verdict but it seems as though the Tour de France looks set for its least mountainous parcours in years.If the route is to be believed, there will only be four or five mountain stages at this race, with summit finishes looking even thinner on the ground, at a potential figure of three. Thats maybe a response to the past few years, in which Tadej Pogaar has decimated the field.Instead, it looks as though the parcours will feature lots of hilly stages, particularly those with decisive short ramps towards the finish. This could be an attempt to generate the hype and excitement of a Classic, and to minimise the GC gaps to prevent the race from being won on one single day.Similarly, the race upping its number of time-trials to two could indicate that the race organisers want to give a leg up to Remco Evenepoel, who has beaten Pogaar consistently on flat time-trials over the past three editions.The final weekend is completely head-scratching to me, however. A sprint stage to Libourne, then the Paris stage. A Stage 20 flat stage seems bamboozling and a waste of an opportunity for the race when the viewership is at its highest. Also, given the Montmartre stages have been neutralised on both occasions theyve featured on the final stage, its likely the last stage wont be influential in GC. That could leave the race frozen GC-wise after Stage 19, when the race leaves the Pyrenees.Lets hope our newspaper sources are wrong in that case.The post Grand Colombier, Col du Portet and Normandy: Tour de France 2027 route rumours appeared first on Cyclist.