WALES is set to take centre stage in a historic summer of cycling in 2027, when both the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes begin in Great Britain.

Organisers say the two Grand Départs will create the most accessible major sporting event ever staged in Britain, with free roadside viewing along more than 900km of public roads across England, Scotland and Wales.

For Welsh fans, the headline moment will be a Tour de France stage starting in Welshpool and finishing in Cardiff, bringing the world’s biggest men’s cycle race through mid Wales and into the capital.

The first three stages of the Tour de France have been confirmed as:

• Edinburgh to Carlisle
• Keswick to Liverpool
• Welshpool to Cardiff

The Tour de France Femmes will also begin in Great Britain in 2027, in what is expected to be the first time the women’s race has started outside mainland Europe.

Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and London have been confirmed as stage start or finish locations for the women’s race.

The UK Government has announced £32 million of investment to support the event and its long-term legacy, with organisers forecasting more than £150 million in economic benefits.

Local businesses including hotels, pubs, restaurants and visitor attractions are expected to see a boost from increased tourism, while communities will be encouraged to get involved through a UK-wide legacy programme aimed at growing participation in cycling, improving wellbeing and creating new opportunities for young people.

Organisers say rural areas as well as major cities will benefit, with the route designed so a large proportion of the population can reach the race within an hour’s drive.

Further details about timings and the full route are expected to be released closer to the event.

PETITION calls for ring fenced protection for physical education as schools face a widening funding gap with England

A WELSH education campaigner is calling for urgent reform after new analysis claimed pupils in Wales are hundreds of millions of pounds worse off than their counterparts in England, with Physical Education among the areas most at risk.

Nick Clement, founder of Confident Healthy Active Me CIC, has launched a petition to the Senedd calling for PE to be ring fenced within the Welsh curriculum, amid concerns that many children are missing out on regular, structured physical activity in school.

“PE is disappearing from many Welsh schools. Some children go weeks without structured physical activity. We would not accept this in literacy or numeracy and we should not accept it in PE either,” he said.

The campaign says Welsh schools are now more than £16,000 worse off per school than those in England, arguing that changes to curriculum funding and the absence of ring fenced support have left schools struggling to protect PE time.

In England, the government provides £320 million annually through the PE and Sport Premium, supporting structured PE delivery and staff training. Campaigners say Wales has no equivalent programme and no statutory requirement for the amount of PE time delivered in primary schools.

The group claims that around 45,000 children in Wales are in schools with little or no weekly PE provision.

Children deserve better

Confident Healthy Active Me CIC delivers free Active Assemblies to primary schools across Wales, aiming to help children build physical confidence and develop healthy habits through inclusive movement sessions. The organisation also works with Flying Start settings, supporting two and three year olds and their families through early years physical literacy and movement based learning.

The sessions combine exercise, storytelling and wellbeing themes, with the campaign arguing that regular movement supports children’s focus, behaviour and mental health, as well as long term physical wellbeing.

“We see daily how movement supports children’s focus, behaviour, and mental health. Yet PE remains optional, underfunded, and undervalued in Wales,” Clement said.

Senedd petition

The petition urges the Welsh Government to ring fence PE in the curriculum and protect delivery in schools. The campaign is asking supporters to help reach 10,000 signatures, which would trigger consideration of a formal debate in the Senedd.

The petition is available online at: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246825

“If PE isn’t protected now, we risk a generation growing up inactive, unhealthy, and disconnected from movement. Wales cannot afford to fall further behind,” Clement said.

Images showcasing the group’s programmes and Active Assemblies are available on request.

From carb choices to hydration, organisers share practical advice to help runners avoid common mistakes

RUNNERS preparing for events from 5Ks to full marathons are being urged to pay as much attention to nutrition as they do to training, with new guidance highlighting simple steps that can make a big difference on race day.

Activity Wales Events has shared a set of practical tips covering what to eat and drink before, during and after a race, warning that poor fuelling can lead to fatigue, cramps and a sharp drop-off in performance — even when training has gone well.

The advice encourages runners to avoid trying anything new on the day and to focus on a steady routine in the days leading up to an event, including sensible carbohydrate intake, regular meals and good hydration.

It also highlights the importance of planning for longer distances, where runners may need to take on energy during the race — and to practise that strategy in training so the body is used to it.

Organisers say recovery matters too, with post-race food and fluids helping the body repair and reducing the risk of feeling unwell after finishing.

The guidance is aimed at runners of all abilities and distances, from those taking part in their first 5K to experienced competitors tackling half marathons and marathons.

The full guide is available via Activity Wales Events’ website.