Race Route Lead – Tour de France & Tour de France Femmes

British Cycling; Manchester; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent sports organization based in Manchester is seeking a Race Route Lead to oversee the race route planning for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes 2027. You will coordinate with various stakeholders including local authorities and emergency services to ensure a safe and successful delivery of race routes. Ideal candidates should exhibit strong leadership and project management skills while maintaining effective communication with a range of partners. This role offers a competitive salary and generous benefits.

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 in delivering closed road route management for large events.
• Demonstrable experience working with authorities and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate all aspects of the event route for safe racing.
• Be the key contact for route-related stakeholders.
• Work with authorities to secure permissions for route management.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Route management

Operational coordination

Job description

Job Overview

Organisation British Cycling Salary Up to £55,000 per annum (dependent on experience) Location Manchester Contract type Fixed Term (Full time) Closing date 9 January 2026 Job Description About British Cycling

About the Role

In 2027 the UK will host the Grand Depart 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.

Qualifications

• 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-paced environment. You take initiative, adapt quickly to change, and bring creativity and resilience to everything you do.

Responsibilities

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.

Perks

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