Bulgarian municipalities feverishly prepare for Giro d’Italia

The 109th edition of one of the world’s biggest cycling races, the Giro d’Italia, will begin with three stages on Bulgarian territory, scheduled between May 8 and 10. The teams will be presented to the public on May 6, St George’s Day, when the official opening ceremony will also take place, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed.

Comprehensive television and digital coverage of the competition

“The Big Start” of the race on 8 May will place Bulgaria in the spotlight for millions of viewers around the world. The stages will be broadcast on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, while viewers will also be able to watch every minute of the competition live and on demand on HBO Max. The Giro’s route through the region is also expected to draw thousands of cycling fans and tourists from across Europe. All of this calls for intensive preparations by the municipalities along the route.

The route through Bulgaria starts from the ancient town of Nessebar

In this regard, the Municipality of Nessebar has invited local businesses to join the official tourism portal visitnessebar.bg, which offers a free opportunity for online presentation of accommodation, dining establishments, attractions, services, and retail outlets. In this way, tourists arriving in the area to watch the race can find up-to-date information about what the UNESCO-listed city has to offer in one place.

New asphalt and improved visibility along the route

Nearly 140 kilometres of the national road network in the Burgas region are being resurfaced in preparation for the cycling tour, the Road Infrastructure Agency said.

The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of April, with all necessary improvements to the road structure and markings included. Ditches and roadside areas have been cleared, and excess vegetation has been removed, improving drainage and visibility.

Burgas welcomes cyclists in pink

The city, which will host the official opening of the Giro d’Italia will be extensively decorated in the race’s signature pink colour. Residents are encouraged to decorate their balconies and entrances with pink flowers and flags, while restaurants and hotels are invited to offer themed menus and cocktails. Businesses and commercial sites can also take part by illuminating their façades in pink or adding decorative elements.

Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov said that the municipality aims to become the most memorable starting location in the history of the race.

Veliko Tarnovo is preparing to welcome the cyclists finishing the second stage of the Giro d’Italia

“The Tsarevets Fortress has already been illuminated in pink. It will also be illuminated in pink on the day of the finish. For three days, a stage with a large screen will be set up to broadcast the Giro live in the square in front of the Asenevtsi Monument (the monument to the Asen Dynasty). The evening will end with a concert, which we will announce later”, Deputy Mayor Georgi Nedev told BTA. He called the race “the biggest event for Bulgaria and certainly for Veliko Tarnovo” this year.

Journalists from international media outlets familiarized themselves with Plovdiv’s preparations for the large-scale sporting event

The riders’ route will pass through iconic locations in the oldest European city, with participants stopping at designated “pit stops” that will also feature tasting areas for the region’s traditional Mavrud wine. This was announced during a meeting between Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov and representatives of international media outlets such as Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Marca, EuroSport, and others, held on the occasion of the upcoming event in the city.

The Municipality of Plovdiv is preparing a supporting programme for the day the race passes through the city – 10 May – with a special focus on the connection between professional cyclists from the Giro d’Italia and amateur cyclists. Concerts are scheduled before the start, and immediately afterwards a cycling procession will take place, symbolically marking the beginning of the new cycling season in the city.

A special clock is counting down the time until the start.

Edited by Elena Karkalanova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov