site.btaNessebar Mayor Says Municipality Has Taken All Necessary Steps Regarding Organization of First Stage of Giro d’Italia Cycling Race

Nessebar Municipality will kick off the tourist season in a unique way with the world-class international race Giro d’Italia, which will start from the UNESCO World Heritage city on May 8 with the first stage of the cycling race, Nessebar Mayor Nikolay Dimitrov said in a video address broadcast on Tuesday, at a press conference at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia, where BTA’s new section "Giro d’Italia 2026 – Cycling in Bulgaria" was presented.

"The residents of the municipality and we, as municipal leadership, are eagerly awaiting this international competition," Dimitrov said. "The Municipality of Nessebar has held many meetings, we recently spoke with Sports Minister Dimitar Iliev and the coordinating committee," he added that all organizational preparations have been completed.

"We have prepared a program for May 7 featuring festive and folklore events and a series of activities to welcome our guests," Dimitrov said, adding that thousands of tourists are expected, who will be accommodated in hotels in the area. On May 7, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled in honour of Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, Pope John XXIII, who is described as a great friend of Nessebar, born in the province of Bergamo, Italy, the mayor added. In the evening, there will be a large concert on the fortress walls, titled BTR and Friends, and the walls of the old town will be illuminated in pink.

Dimitrov added that the construction of the bike path within the municipality was intended to be used for such events.

The official start of the Giro d’Italia race will be on May 8, and there will be a ceremonial lap around the city of Nessebar, Dimitrov added. He said that Nessebar has already been visited by Italian journalists, who filmed footage of the city.