Race Routes Lead - TdF Grand Depart 2027

British Cycling UK; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports organization is seeking a Race Route Lead to manage and coordinate the race routes for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes. This role involves leading a team to ensure safe, efficient delivery of the routes, engaging with stakeholders including local authorities and emergency services, and overseeing complex operations. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership skills, experience in route management for large events, and strong communication abilities. The position is full-time and offers a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Cycle to Work Scheme

Generous Holidays (25 days + bank holidays)

Holiday purchase scheme

Life Assurance

Pension

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading a team.
• Experience of delivering significant closed road route management programmes.
• Capability of overseeing complex operations and driving performance across teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all aspects of event route to ensure safety.
• Serve as key contact for route-related stakeholders.
• Work with authorities to secure permissions and resources.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate route planning into travel management.

Skills

Team Leadership

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Organizational Skills

Job description

Role Title: Race Route Lead – Tour de France & Tour de France Femmes

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Contract: Full-time, fixed term until end of August 2027

Location: Manchester (hybrid) Manchester - hybrid working model, minimum 2-days per week in Manchester office or regional travel as required.

Start Date: Immediate

About British Cycling

In 2027 the UK will host the GrandDepart of both the Tour De France and the Tour De France Femmes, Avec Zwift. This will be the first time in history that both races have departed from the same country, outside of France. A landmark social impact programme will also be delivered across the UK, tackling inactivity, improving mental wellbeing, boosting economic growth and supporting communities to thrive.

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – Grand Depart GB 2027 – will maintain oversight of the delivery of the events and will manage public funding on behalf of DCMS, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and UK Sport.

The SPV is a Joint Venture between UKEL (a new sports events company) and British Cycling. British Cycling will deliver the operational and business function, social impact and volunteer programmes along with all consumer facing functions, on behalf of partners.

British Cycling are now recruiting for a Race Route Lead to join the growing Operations Team.

The Race Route Lead will lead race route planning for stages 1 to 3 of the Tour de France and stages 1 to 3 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Grand Departs 2027. This role will oversee all elements of Race Route planning and lead the integrated planning across internal teams and external stakeholders and partners to ensure safe & successful delivery of the race routes.

Reporting into the project’s Operations Director, the successful candidate will lead the Route Management Team who will be recruited on a staggered basis as we approach the event.

What we’re looking for?

You will have proven experience in leading a team.

You will have experience of leading and delivering significant closed road route management programmes for large and complex events in the sports events industry.

Demonstrable experience of working in partnership with Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Highways and Transport Agencies / Authorities and multiple stakeholders in a closed road event environment.

You will be a confident leader and project manager, capable of overseeing complex operations, coordinating multiple workstreams, and driving high performance across teams and delivery partners.

Ability to work under pressure and working to tight timescales with experience of successfully working, liaising and communicating with a large number of partners and stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

You are a strong communicator who thrives on building relationships with colleagues and a range of stakeholders.

You will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-pacedenvironment. You take initiative, adapt quickly to change, and bring creativity and resilience to everything you do.

What will you be doing?

As Race Route Lead, you will:

• Co-ordinate and manage all aspects of the event route to ensure a safe closed road racing route is provided across all UK stages of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes.
• Be the key contact for all route related stakeholders, including the ASO, across the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift routes.
• Work with Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Highways Agencies and all other stakeholders to secure the relevant permissions and resources to manage the routes as required.
• To work in collaboration with the Highways and Transport Teams and partners to ensure all elements of route planning are delivered and integrated into spectator travel management and wider traffic impact planning.
• To advise, with others, on the procurement of all route related infrastructure and resource including but not limited to traffic management, stewarding, barriers and other safety and security provision for the race routes.
• Identify key roles and quantities for any race route volunteer requirements are built into the wider event volunteer programme
• Work with Operations Director to devise event time resource plans, recruit and train required workforce.
• Creation and management of route plans, policies, contingency plans working in conjunction with the relevant policing authorities, highways authorities and suppliers across the three days of the event.
• To assure the readiness route operations as part of the event planning process.
• Manage documents and communication that will form part of the wider event management plan for the event weekend.
• To work collaboratively with the project Senior Leadership Team, assuring the whole programme and supporting delivery partners in their preparations and delivery.

What are the perks?

• Competitive Salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Generous Holidays (25 days + bank holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Life Assurance
• Pension

How to apply

Send us your CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest in the role and why you feel you meet the criteria via the apply button below.

Applications close: Friday 9 January 2026