Giro d’Italia kicks off with official ceremony at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Half a billion inhabitants of our planet will look towards Bulgaria to experience the start of the popular international cycling race Giro d’Italia. They will get to know the beauty of Bulgarian nature and remarkable cultural and historical heritage, as the country will seize the chance to prove itself as a responsible host of world-class events.

The beginning is on May 6 at the Summer Theatre in Burgas, where an official ceremony will present the teams participating in the race. The event will be broadcast on television channels around the world.

"I assume that everyone will have their own personal impressions when it comes to what kind of Bulgaria people around the world will see, because the race has a huge audience," says sports journalist Kamen Alipiev, who will be host of the event. "A lot of work has been done and I hope that the spectators will see a beautiful Bulgaria with wonderful sights. Moreover, the three stages - the first from Nessebar with a finish in Burgas, the second from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo and the third from Plovdiv to Sofia, show a magnificent part of our country."

According to Kamen Alipiev, one of the main reasons for holding Giro d’Italia in this country is to promote Bulgaria and to show that, although in a slightly more remote corner of Europe, it is an integral part of it and is ready to accept such a challenge. According to him, the cycling tour is the biggest sporting event that has ever come to the country and there will be viewers from all over the world.

The actual start is on May 8, when the cyclists will set off from the ancient Black Sea town of Nessebar, passing near two of the churches in the Old Town - part of the UNESCO World Heritage. In Burgas, they will ride along the famous "24th Black Sea Regiment" street, near the Sea Garden and Chernomorets Stadium.

Around Sozopol (founded in the 7th century BC), the competitors will make a 22-kilometer tour and will enjoy one of the most beautiful sea views - the so-called Driver's Beach.

The cyclists' route passes through numerous natural and cultural landmarks in a number of settlements in Bulgaria to reach the central square in Plovdiv, where a challenge awaits them in the tunnel under the Ancient Theater and many more kilometers - all the way to Sofia's Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. and the finish in front of the National Assembly building in the Bulgarian capital.

The sports journalist warns citizens who want to see the participants in Giro d’Italia live to stand early at the designated places and bring water and some food, because they will have to wait a long time. They must not cross the routes, nor try to contact the cyclists during the race. "In other words, let's see a polite audience that supports the competitors and does not try to interfere in their performance," summarizes Kamen Alipiev in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.

"I sincerely believe that Bulgarian citizens will enjoy the race and will come out to watch it," said caretaker Minister of Sports Dimitar Iliev at the unveiling of the clock counting down the days until the start of Giro d'Italia. "There are many positive effects for both sport and tourism. The tour brings with it a huge tourist flow and will be watched in about 190 countries by millions of spectators. By placing the clock, Bulgaria confirms its readiness and ambition to host the start and the first three stages of the prestigious cycling event. This is a clear sign of our country's commitment to the successful organization and holding of the international race."

What aftertaste will this large-scale sporting event leave not only in spectators and cycling fans, but also on the image of Bulgaria?

"I think that the entire huge organization and the use of so many human, financial, logistical and all sorts of other resources on the territory of our country is for the sake of the aftertaste being like that of a good wine - after you've tasted it, you discover more and more new things,“ Kamen Alipiev says. „As someone who has always tried to talk about sport as part of the culture of a people, it is important that a country with good cycling traditions like Bulgaria keeps a good image and that the competition motivates as many people as possible to get involved in cycling and sports."

See also:

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Bulgarian municipalities feverishly prepare for Giro d’Italia