Giro d’Italia 2026 will start in Bulgaria with a stage from Nessebar to Burgas

Тhe 2026 Giro d’Italia will begin in Bulgaria for the first time in the history of the race. Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov attended the ceremony in Rome where the route of the 109th edition of the Giro - one of the world’s biggest cycling races - was presented.

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“It is an honour for me to announce that Bulgaria will launch the Giro d’Italia with the first three stages. The Giro is not just a race. It is a tradition that unites nations, sport, tourism, and culture. For us, this is an exceptional opportunity to showcase the beauty of Bulgaria - a country with a glorious history, unique nature, and remarkable hospitality traditions,” Zhelyazkov said.

The 2026 Giro d’Italia will start with a 156-kilometer stage from Nessebar to Burgas on May 8. 

The original plan was for the start to be in Burgas with a stage to Veliko Tarnovo. Instead, this 220-kilometer section will be ridden on the second racing day on Bulgarian territory - May 9. The third and final Bulgarian stage of the Giro d’Italia will be a 174-kilometer route from Plovdiv to Sofia via Borovets on May 10. The previously planned stage from Veliko Tarnovo to Plovdiv has been cancelled, and the cyclists’ caravan will be transported between the two cities by team vehicles and buses on the evening of May 9.

“The Giro d’Italia is one of the largest sporting events in the world, held since 1909. We are extremely delighted that starting in 2026, Bulgaria will be part of this extraordinary history. Only 11 years ago, the first Bulgarian, Nikolay Mihaylov, took part in the Giro as a competitor. Eleven years later, the first three stages will start from Bulgaria. This shows the complex, interesting, and dynamic path we have traveled in such a short time,” the Bulgarian prime minister emphasized.

A major intergovernmental meeting between Bulgaria and Italy will take place in March next year. This was agreed upon by Prime Ministers Rosen Zhelyazkov and Giorgia Meloni during their meeting in Rome, Zhelyazkov added.

The Giro d’Italia will start on May 8 in Bulgaria and will finish on May 31, 2026, in Rome.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov and Rositsa Petkova
English version: R. Petkova