Bulgarians in the history of the Giro d’Italia

Bulgaria is firmly in the spotlight of the cycling world as it hosts the start of the Giro d’Italia — one of the sport’s most prestigious races and one of cycling’s three Grand Tours alongside the Tour de France and Spain’s Vuelta a España.

First staged in 1909, the Giro begins this year in Bulgaria with the “Grande Partenza” of the famed “Corsa Rosa”. It is the 16th time the race has started outside Italy. The peloton will roll from east to west across some of Bulgaria’s most striking cities and landscapes, showcasing the country to a global television audience.

“This is a huge opportunity for Bulgaria because the race is watched by between 500 and 800 million viewers in more than 190 countries, while the real impact comes six months to a year after the event itself. Bulgaria will be shown in its best light, with unique and beautiful scenery,” caretaker Sports Minister Dimitar Iliev told Bulgarian National Television (BNT), which is also broadcasting the race.

The first Bulgarian at the Giro

To date, Nikolay Mihaylov remains the only Bulgarian rider to compete in the men’s Giro d’Italia.

He made his Giro debut in 2015 during the race’s 98th edition as part of the Polish professional team CCC Sprandi Polkowice.

Mihaylov produced one of his strongest rides in the individual time trial on Stage 14 from Treviso to Valdobbiadene, finishing an impressive 21st. The rider from Svilengrad went on to complete the demanding three-week race, becoming the first Bulgarian cyclist to finish one of the sport’s three Grand Tours.

Although Bulgaria has a long-standing cycling tradition and decades of history with the Tour of Bulgaria, the country has had only a limited presence in elite professional road cycling. Mihaylov’s appearance at the Giro in 2015 is therefore widely seen as a landmark moment for Bulgarian cycling.

A historic moment in 2026

In 2026, Bulgaria becomes the first Balkan country ever to host the start of the Giro d’Italia — the biggest international cycling event ever organised in the country.

Inspired by the scale and visibility of the race, cities across Bulgaria are also launching amateur cycling events and initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to take up the sport and embrace cycling as part of an active lifestyle.

Text by Elena Karkalanova
Edited by Desislava Semkovska