Bulgaria – Host of the Start of the 2026 Giro d’Italia
In 2026, Bulgaria will host a historic moment in the world of professional cycling – the first official Grande Partenza (grand start) of the legendary Giro d’Italia held outside Italy on national soil. This was announced at the official route presentation in Rome at the end of 2025, attended by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, government ministers, and representatives of the race organizers.
The Giro d’Italia is one of the three “Grand Tours” in cycling, alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, with over 100 years of history and immense international popularity. The start of the 109th edition in 2026 will take place in Eastern Europe for the first time in its history.
What Bulgaria’s hosting will include:
- The Grande Partenza and the first three stages of the Giro d’Italia will take place on Bulgarian territory from May 8 to 10, 2026.
- The first stage will run from Nessebar to Burgas, entirely along the Black Sea coast.
- The second stage will go from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, including a passage through the Balkan Mountains.
- The third Bulgarian stage will run from Plovdiv to Sofia, before the peloton continues on to Italy.
In total, the three stages in Bulgaria cover over 600 km of the race’s overall route and represent one of the country’s most significant sporting and tourism projects for 2026.
Hosting the Giro d’Italia is a unique opportunity to give Bulgaria exceptional international visibility as a tourist and sports destination. The event is broadcast in over 200 countries and attracts millions of viewers worldwide, putting Bulgaria on the global stage before a vast audience.
Bulgarian authorities emphasize that the event will promote an active lifestyle and cycling, as well as boost economic and tourism interest in the country.
Stage 3: PLOVDIV – SOFIA
Sunday, May 10, 2026
174 km, 1,600 m of positive elevation gain
Another day likely to end in a sprint, even though the route includes a long and steady climb in its middle section – the Borovets Pass, located just before the well-known ski resort. After crossing the pass, riders face approximately 70 km of descent or gently downhill terrain leading directly to the Bulgarian capital. The final 7 km are completely straight – a pure high-speed sprint on a perfectly flat finish stretch to the finish line.
