site.btaUPDATED Giro d’Italia 2026 – Cycling in Bulgaria: BTA Presents New Section
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is presenting Tuesday a new section, Giro d’Italia 2026 – Cycling in Bulgaria, focused on coverage of the three Bulgarian stages of the Giro, which will be taking place May 8-10, 2026.
BTA Director General Kiril Valchev told a news conference in the BTA National Press Club that the section will also offer articles about Bulgarian cycling clubs and competitions, cycling infrastructure and bicycle manufacturing in Bulgaria.
He underscored the importance of the BTA archive, which dates back to the 1898 and offers a lot of information about the traditions of cycling in Bulgaria.
Participating in the Tuesday news conference were all 33 BTA national press clubs, the BTA correspondents across the country, the Sport News Department and the mayors of settlements along the Giro route in Bulgaria, said Valchev.
In Giro d’Italia 2026 – Cycling in Bulgaria, BTA will cover the race itself - viewers will even see the overall winner of the Italian stage, thanks to BTA’s partnership with Italy’s national news agency, ANSA. The section will also showcase Bulgaria, highlighting the towns and regions along the race route.
"However, the Giro d’Italia is really just a starting point for a permanent platform across all BTA correspondents in the country - Cycling in Bulgaria - covering cycling events, races, clubs, bike routes, the country’s cycling infrastructure, and bicycle manufacturing, while drawing on BTA’s rich archives," said the BTA Director General.
He emphasized the importance of partnering with colleagues from Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio, and noted that BTA will provide content for all private media. "Unlike colleagues in the competitive advertising market, our content is freely accessible; we do not seek advertising," Valchev reminded.
The BTA Director General highlighted that the Bulgarian Cycling Union began its history in Ruse as early as 1902 - nearly as long as BTA itself, which was founded in 1898, he added.
Another focus of the new section will be bicycle manufacturing in Bulgaria, he said. BTA archives hold a photo of the first bicycle produced between 1880–1882 in Nova Zagora, then part of Eastern Rumelia, by Geno 'Arabadjiata' Stoyanov. He also noted that the iconic Balkan bicycle remains a well-remembered symbol.
During the presentation of the new section, BTA screened a two-minute film on the history of cycling and bicycle manufacturing in Bulgaria, as well as a BTA initiative for a cycling tour from Sofia to Karlovo dedicated to the anniversary of the birth of national hero Vasil Levski.
Participating in the event at BTA were also Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva, Sport Minister Dimitar Iliev, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, Bulgarian National Television Director General Milena Milotinova, Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev, representatives of the local authorities, sport and sectoral organizations.
This year, Bulgaria will be hosting the Grande Partenza - the opening stage - of the Italian cycling tour. The route goes by natural and cultural landmarks, divided in three stages. The first is from Nessebar to Burgas on May 8, the second from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo on May 9 and the third is from Plovdiv to Sofia on May 10, 2026.
/MR/
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