A group from Portobello High got to see the Tour de France trophy ahead of going to Paris to speak at the British Embassy
The Tour de France Grand Départ Trophy visited Portobello today ( Monday 19 October) to celebrate the first ever time the race will start in Scotland.
The Tour de France will begin at Edinburgh Castle in July 2027, and ahead of the history-making departure the trophy was brought to Portobello promenade to recognise the work to encourage cycling within Portobello High School.
The school has done incredible work to encourage cycling within it’s community, including the launch of Girls Gone Cycling – a scheme to inspire female pupils to take up cycling. The school can provide bikes to students that they are able to take home to make sure cycling is inclusive to all, as well as have a dedicated team of senior pupils to support younger pupils and deliver activities.
Ten pupils from the Girl Gone Cycling team are heading to Paris this week to speak at the British Embassy on how they grew the initiative from an idea in June 2026, to within six months, including over 70 pupils and now being replicated in schools across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland. The group has been particularly successful at encouraging ethnic minorities and those with additional support needs to get into the saddle.
The group is part of Pedal Power Porty, a strategy that has seen cycling participation increase significantly with over 150 pupils now taking part in cycling to school, bike activities and the launch of school mountain bike team. They also take pupils to bike locally, nationally and internationally and have an on-site school bike mechanic to make sure all bikes are well maintained.
The Tour de France trophy visited Portobello High as part of a cycling celebration, with biking activities and UK pro cyclocross champion Anna Flynn taking part in a demonstration.
Council leader Jane Meagher said: “I am really excited and proud to be welcoming the Tour de France trophy to Portobello High School before the tour comes to Edinburgh next summer.
“The Girls Gone Cycling initiative has been incredibly successful in encouraging girls to the sport and, in just a few months, is now being replicated at schools across the East of Scotland. The school has been instrumental in encouraging cycling within Portobello and Craigmillar and removing barriers to ensure biking is accessible to all.
“The Tour de France coming to Edinburgh for the first time is very exciting. We are investing £1.7million – money that has been generated from the Visitor Levy - to improve roads for the event and it’s set to bring in millions of pounds for the local economy.
““This will be another event that puts Edinburgh on the worldwide stage and I cannot wait to see the yellow jersey set off with the world famous Edinburgh Castle in the background.”
Headteacher at Portobello High School Greg McDowall said: “Our Pedal Power Porty has been a great success and encouraged so many children to use their bikes. We have a library of bikes for pupils to use so that cycling has no barriers and the older pupils teach basic bike skills and maintenance to the younger children.
“Having the Tour de France trophy come to Portobello is incredible and can only encourage more kids to take up cycling. I know a lot of our pupils are counting the days until the Grand Départ set off from their home city.”