People across Wales are being urged to apply for the chance to volunteer at the Tour de France Grand Départ before the deadline closes on Tuesday 1 September.
Volunteers, officially known as JOY Makers, will help support the third stage of the men’s race on Sunday 4 July 2027.
The stage will begin in Welshpool before passing through scenic valleys, town centres and some of Wales’s best-known landscapes on its way to the finish in Cardiff.
Anyone aged 16 or over can apply to become a JOY Maker, with no previous volunteering experience required. Full training will be provided to those selected.
Volunteers aged between 18 and 25 will also be eligible for the Readiness to Work scheme, which offers employability skills training and career-focused mentoring.
Around 1,250 people have registered their interest across Wales so far.
Organisers are particularly keen to receive more applications from people living within easy reach of the route. Volunteers will have an opportunity to represent their communities while helping Wales host one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport Heledd Fychan said: “The Tour de France arriving in Wales is a truly rare opportunity. It’s our moment to build on Geraint Thomas’s legacy, encourage a new generation to take up cycling, and showcase the best that Wales has to offer.
“By volunteering, you’ll help Wales extend its distinctive ‘Croeso’ to the world, all while playing a part in a landmark event, forging new connections, celebrating your local community, and gaining skills that will benefit your career.
“No matter whether you’re an experienced volunteer or brand new to it, there’s a place for everyone. I’d encourage anyone keen to get involved to represent their community as part of the Grand Départs.”
The Welsh Government is working with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action to ensure volunteering for the Tour can lead to further opportunities across Wales.
Matt Brown, Deputy Chief Executive of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, said: “Volunteers will play a central role in bringing the Tour de France to Wales in 2027. We’re thrilled to be working alongside the Welsh Government on the Tour de France to create a lasting volunteering legacy that strengthens communities right across Wales for years to come.”
Members of the public will also have an opportunity to see the official Grand Départ Trophy when it visits the Caerphilly Cheese Festival on Saturday 29 August as part of its UK-wide tour.
Anyone interested in volunteering should search for ‘JOY makers’ and apply before the Tuesday 1 September deadline.
