Tour de France unveils route for Scottish stage

Towns and villages across Scotland will get the chance to see their cycling heroes flying by next year.

The official route of the opening stage of the Tour de France in 2027 - known as the Grand Depart - has been revealed.

It will start in Edinburgh and then spend much of its time in the Scottish Borders and also a slice of Dumfries and Galloway before finishing in Carlisle.

Kelso rider Oscar Onley - who recently signed for Ineos Grenadiers - should be a star attraction as he hopes to lead his team on the roads he used to race on while growing up.

Edinburgh had already been confirmed as the starting point for cycling's biggest event on 2 July next year.

Now the route south through Midlothian, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway to Carlisle has been revealed.

From Edinburgh, the race will head south towards Newtongrange before heading on to Innerleithen.

It will then turn east towards Galashiels before what is likely to be the toughest section of the day - the climb of the Côte de Melrose in the Eildon Hills.

After that riders will make their way through Selkirk towards Hawick and Newcastleton before crossing briefly into Dumfries and Galloway and passing through Canonbie.

The final stretch of the stage is in England and passes through Longtown and Brampton before the finish in Carlisle.

First Minister John Swinney said it would be a "truly memorable moment" to see the event racing through "some of our most beautiful countryside".

"Places such as Newtongrange, with its rich mining heritage; Galashiels, home to Scotland's textile industry; and Canonbie, on the River Esk, will put their unique stamps on and become part of the history of this legendary event," he said.

He said it was a "wonderful opportunity" to showcase some of the best of Scotland to millions of cycling fans watching on television or attending in person.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said the UK had always welcomed the race with "passion and pride".

He said the route details reflected the "beauty and diversity of Britain's terrain".

Scottish Cycling's head of performance and coaching, David Somerville, said it would be a special day for Onley and fellow Scot Sean Flynn on roads they had used in training "many times" as young riders.

All the council areas that the race will pass through welcomed the announcement.

Euan Jardine, leader of Scottish Borders Council, said it was an "incredible honour" to host the majority of the stage.