Tour de France trophy visits Portobello ahead of 2027 Scotland start

The Tour de France Grand Départ Trophy visited Portobello to celebrate the race's upcoming start at Edinburgh Castle in July 2027, marking the first time the event will begin in Scotland.

The visit recognized the cycling initiatives at Portobello High School, specifically the ‘Girls Gone Cycling’ scheme. This program aims to inspire female students to take up cycling and has grown to include over 70 pupils, with replication occurring in schools across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland. Ten students from the initiative are traveling to Paris to speak at the British Embassy regarding the program's development.

Additional efforts at the school include the ‘Pedal Power Porty’ strategy, which has increased cycling participation to over 150 pupils through activities such as a school mountain bike team and a bike library. Council leader Jane Meagher noted that £1.7 million from the Visitor Levy is being invested to improve roads for the event, which is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy.