The Tour de France is coming to Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and more - and Powys people are already buzzing

Powys was named as host to the third and final day of the tour’s Grand Départ in 2027 and it has been welcomed as a historic opportunity to showcase the county and provide a massive injection to its economy.

Welshpool has been confirmed as the starting point of the third UK stage of the 2027 Tour de France.

Stage three of the men's race will begin in Powys and finish in Cardiff on Sunday, July 4, 2027, passing through Mid Wales towns including Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells.

Powys County Council leader Jake Berriman said the Grand Départ will be part of an epic summer for Powys, as it will also host the Royal Welsh Show, International Six Day enduro, National Eisteddfod and the Grant Depart in the space of a few weeks.

The county has enjoyed several Tour of Britain stage events along with the Women’s Tour, all of which generated a significant economic boost for the county, particularly its hospitality sector, and provided a world-wide platform to showcase the county as a holiday destination.

And it seems that local businesspeople feel the same: they spoke of their excitement for what the Tour de France can do for Powys.

Tony Brooks of Brooks Cycles in Puzzle Square, Welshpool said he thinks it will have a positive impact on his business but he is more pleased about the impact it will have on bringing people into Welshpool generally.

“I am not expecting our trade to be massively increased although I am sure it will improve a bit but 80 per cent of my business now is online and people can access that when they like from wherever they are.

“But obviously we are going to get busier, but it’s not going to make me a millionaire. I will probably shut on the day to watch it but we will be doing things beforehand in the lead up to the day – trying to link into it over the next year.

“We try and advertise the good riding around here day in day out and we will be monitoring the tour - and we have cycling clubs around here that we sponsor which may get involved.

“Welshpool will obviously be really busy on the day and I may look at making bike storage available because if people from the surrounding area cycle in we could have 200 – 300 people coming in.

“We will do some advertising and 'ride the roads' pieces which we did for the Tour of Britain before. That did not make a big difference to us but it makes a difference to all the businesses around us such as hotels and B&Bs.

“I advertise Welshpool, not just my own shop, and it has made me more enthusiastic about keeping my shop going and adding to it.

“It definitely will have a positive impact and there is a buzz about the place and on social media since it was announced and people have been coming in and mentioning it.

“It will be great for the local area, particularly for tourism and if we get more tourists then we get more business.”

Staff at the Royal Oak in Welshpool said people have been in talking about it and they think it will have a positive effect on the area and its economy.

Nick Murphy, duty manager at the Elephant and Castle in Newtown, said Powys is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and hopefully the Tour will show off the region.

“It seems likely absolutely fantastic news, Powys could do with a lot more tourists and a lot more events to bring people in.

“A lot of our customers come for business but we do get leisure customers and with the way the economy is at the moment the Tour de France can only be a good thing.

“It’s always good to get a major event in Powys, it all helps and it will be something different for people to see.”

Linda Hailstone, manager of the Raven Inn in Welshpool, said it can only be a good thing for Welshpool and the area.

“We just heard about it yesterday and there is a buzz around the town about it. I think the town will get busy a couple of days before the Tour de France with organisers, teams, spectators and families et cetera and it will be busy on the day in town with people staying, eating, drinking, and looking around the area.

“I think it will be a really good thing for the town and the wider economy and I think we are really lucky to have been chosen to host a stage.”

Builth Wells Chamber of Trade chairman Gwyn Davies said: “It will hopefully bring some much-needed tourism into Builth Wells and Powys as a whole and help the shops and local businesses.

“I think it’s a great spotlight for Powys and Wales as a whole.

“Hopefully it will also mean our potholes will be sorted and our roads will be in tip-top condition but it’s a shame it takes an event like this to do that because residents are here day in day out.”