site.btaGiro d'Italia Will Boost Tourism, Development of Cycling in Bulgaria, Says Former Cyclist Nencho Staykov

The start of Giro d'Italia in Bulgaria is expected to boost tourism and promote cycling, says Bulgarian cyclist Nencho Staykov, who will attend the opening in Nessebar on May 8.

Training in the past was done on open roads with little traffic, unlike today, where safety concerns make this difficult, Staykov pointed out and noted that the Giro d'Italia is among the biggest cycling events, together with the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. He emphasized that hosting the opening stages of the Giro is a major opportunity for Bulgaria, especially to inspire young people to take up sports. Drawing from life in Portugal, he noted strong public participation in cycling, with unique views of mass cycling especially on weekends. Staykov expressed hope that Bulgaria will develop in a similar direction, as sports in general teach discipline, self-respect and to rely on yourself, which is especially important in a screen-focused era, he said.

Staykov noted that he initially wanted to be a footballer but chose cycling because it relies entirely on personal strength and will. His career lasted over two decades, during which he achieved major successes despite competing in amateur teams. One highlight was finishing sixth with Bulgaria at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, missing a medal by three minutes. Staykov also recalled the Peace Race as the top amateur cycling event, featuring future professionals like Olaf Ludwig and Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, where he himself won two stages, wore the leader’s jersey twice, and finished second overall. Among his other achievements are victories in the Tour of Turkiye, Tour of Normandy, and three wins in the Tour of Bulgaria.

Though no longer active, Staykov remains engaged with sports and encourages cycling as an outdoor activity. After watching the start of the Giro d'Italia, he will join a cycling initiative in Sofia alongside other former champions, such as Ludwig, Abdoujaparov and Hristo Zaykov.