site.btaBulgaria’s Giro d’Italia 2026 Grand Depart to Boost Ties with Italy and Global Visibility

Bulgaria’s hosting of the Grande Partenza of the 2026 Giro d’Italia is shaping up as both a major sporting milestone and an instrument for deepening bilateral ties with Italy and boosting Bulgaria’s international visibility, according to statements made in Rome on Monday by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, members of his Cabinet and representatives of the race organizer RCS Sport.

At the official ceremony unveiling the 109th Giro d’Italia route at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, Zhelyazkov said: “For me, it is an honour to announce that Bulgaria will host the start of the Giro d’Italia with the first three stages. Only 11 years ago, the first Bulgarian, Nikolay Mihaylov, took part in the Giro d’Italia as a rider. Eleven years later, the first three stages will begin in Bulgaria. This shows the complex, interesting, and dynamic journey we have made in such a short time.”

The 2026 Giro d’Italia will open on May 8 with a 156-km stage from Nessebar to Burgas. Bulgaria will stage the first three of the race’s 21 stages, with riders covering more than 600 km from Nessebar to Sofia before the race moves to Italy for the Catanzaro–Cosenza stage on May 12. The second stage on Bulgarian territory will be a 220-km run from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, crossing the Balkan Mountains, followed on May 10 by a 220-km stage from Plovdiv to Sofia. The total distance of the 2026 edition will be 3,459.2 km, with a cumulative elevation gain of 49,150 m.

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh said that “the Giro already has two winners, Italy and Bulgaria”, adding: “I have no doubt that with Bulgaria hosting the opening, the Giro d’Italia will be an even more exciting race.” Youth and Sports Minister Ivan Peshev noted that with its more than 100-year history, the Giro has always been a source of inspiration for young people: “Winning the trust of the Italian side was very difficult, but the Bulgarian government is fully committed to the organization of the event.”

Earlier in the day, the Bulgarian delegation led by Zhelyazkov arrived at the Auditorium, where the Prime Minister, Borshosh and Peshev were welcomed by Italian Minister of Sports Andrea Abodi and RCS Media Group President Urbano Cairo. The three posed for a photo with the Giro d’Italia trophy before proceeding to a closed-door meeting. Bulgaria will host the start of the Giro d’Italia for the first time, with dozens of municipalities involved in the Bulgarian stages before the race finishes in Rome on May 31, 2026.

In separate talks in Rome, Zhelyazkov met with Cairo and RCS Sport CEO Paolo Bellino to discuss preparations for the Bulgarian start. “Hosting the Giro d’Italia 2026 in Bulgaria will provide global visibility for our country to millions of viewers worldwide. Hosting the start of the race and the first three stages in Bulgaria will position the country for an entire week on the global sports and tourism stage,” the Prime Minister said. He added: “The race will be a showcase for the beauty and achievements of our country as host of the opening ceremony and the first three stages of the new edition in 2026.”

Peshev stressed the broader social impact: “The Giro d’Italia 2026 will inspire young people around the world to engage actively in sports and will promote cycling as a lifestyle.” Borshosh underlined the tourism dimension: “Hosting the first stages of the Giro d’Italia will put Bulgaria on the map of global tourism and showcase Bulgarian nature and history to millions of new visitors from around the world.”

From the organizers’ perspective, the decision to bring the Grande Partenza to Bulgaria is part of a wider strategy to expand the race’s international reach. Under an agreement between the Bulgarian Government and RCS Sport, with GO Group Consultancy (GGC) as transaction adviser, the opening three stages will “span more than 600 km from Nessebar to Sofia, meeting all international technical and safety standards for elite cycling events” and engaging local authorities to “maximize visibility and community impact”.

“This event significantly enhances Bulgaria’s international visibility and strengthens its position on the global tourism map,” Zhelyazkov said in connection with the agreement. GGC Managing Partner and Director of Institutional Relations Krestian Kolev commented: “This project reflects our core methodology: combining analytical rigour, institutional coordination and cross-border execution. It showcases Bulgaria’s growing capability to host major international events and leverage them for long-term development.”

At the political level, Zhelyazkov’s visit to Rome also served to advance bilateral relations with Italy. In a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the two leaders agreed to hold an intergovernmental meeting between Bulgaria and Italy in March 2026. They discussed issues related to the upcoming European Council meeting later in December, focusing on enhancing the competitiveness of the European economy and mitigating the impact of the green transition. Defence cooperation, the war in Ukraine and migration were also on the agenda.

Summing up the Bulgarian preparations for 2026, Zhelyazkov said from the Rome stage: “We are delighted that, together with the organizers and my colleagues, the Ministers of Youth and Sports and of Tourism, we were able, in a short period, to complete the necessary preparation and organization for what promises to be a truly remarkable race.” He described the Giro d’Italia not only as a top-level sporting competition but also as a diplomatic and symbolic bridge: “This is not just a sporting event confined to achievements, it is a symbol of trust and friendship between Bulgaria and Italy, and I am confident that we will share this joy together.”