TNT Sports broadcaster on coming full circle to where her journalism career began
Published 24th Oct 2026, 06:00 BST
The Tour de France TV host who started her career at Scotland on Sunday has said it will be a “pinch me” moment to return to Edinburgh to present coverage of the world’s greatest cycling event.
Orla Chennaoui, who did work experience and freelance reporting shifts on The Scotsman’s sister paper in 2002 while studying journalism at the then Napier University, will cover the race for TNT Sports, which will be broadcast on Channel 5 from July 2.
TNT’s lead cycling presenter, who has covered the event ten times, told The Scotsman: “I don’t think anyone can ever quite imagine the fun and excitement of the Tour until it actually arrives.
“But this is going to be such a huge event, one that will live in the collective memory long after the riders have left.
“When all the teams and riders start to arrive in town, Tour de France fever just takes over.
“I’m so excited to go back to Edinburgh for the start of the Tour. It’s where my career in journalism began, and getting the opportunity to show off one of my favourite cities to the cycling world, in all its beauty and with its wonderful people, will be a real pinch-me moment.”
The presenter, who joined TNT in 2025 after covering cycling for Sky Sports and then Eurosport, was also all-Ireland triple jump champion when she was 18.
She was born Orla Heron and is married to Moroccan-born fintech executive Mourad Chennaoui, who she met while studying in France and who studied chemistry at the University of Edinburgh while she was at Napier.
She said: “I worked for Scotland on Sunday as a reporter as I was doing my post grad in journalism at Napier University.”
Ms Chennaoui said spectators would have a good view of the riders in Edinburgh because they would be travelling at a slower pace as part of the non-competitive “neutralised start”.
She said: “The beautiful thing about this stage is that the riders don’t start racing proper until they’re out of the city, when they hit the A7.
“The neutralised start of the stage takes the peloton through the historic sites of Edinburgh’s Old Town, which means the riders get to take in the sights and savour the atmosphere, and more importantly, the fans lining the streets will have a proper chance to see the biggest stars of the sport up close.
“It’s such a special part of any Grand Départ, when everyone is fit and healthy and excited for the racing ahead, and I know the Scottish fans will bring an atmosphere like no other.
“The atmosphere of a Grand Départ is truly like one, big, days-long party.
“This is the biggest bike race in the world, the most prestigious, the most famous, and the biggest rolling logistical, production you can imagine.
“I think what makes this Grand Départ different is the combination of the place, the landscape and the fact that Scotland has never hosted the Tour de France before.
“Edinburgh is a spectacular city in which to start a race. There’s a real sense of history to those streets, and the backdrop of the castle is extraordinary.
“But what excites me just as much is what happens when the race leaves the city.
“The Borders are such an important part of Scotland’s identity, but they don’t always get the same international sporting spotlight as the major cities.”