Hosting three stages of the Giro d’Italia in Bulgaria in May 2026 is an event of great importance not only for sport, but also for tourism and the country’s international image, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said here Tuesday. He was speaking at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia during a presentation of BTA’s new section, Giro d’Italia 2026 – By Bike in Bulgaria, dedicated to Bulgaria hosting three stages of the Tour of Italy from May 8 to 10.
The Sofia Mayor thanked BTA for its efforts to cover such a significant event, “which goes far beyond sport”. “It is very important for the development of tourism in Bulgaria and for each of our cities,” Terziev said. He expressed hope that the event would become another celebration for Sofia.
Terziev also said that a rich programme has been prepared for all ages, including cycling parades for children, cultural events, and stage performances. He explained that on May 9, on the occasion of Europe Day, a cycling parade with pink jerseys will be organized together with ambassadors of European Union member states. “We want to inspire the younger generation and show how important the development of cycling sport is in our country, as well as how important it is to look toward alternative modes of transportation, which we aim to develop in Sofia,” Terziev said.
The mayor noted that the culmination will be on May 10, when the third stage of the race finishes in Sofia. He added that information about the programme and events related to Giro d’Italia 2026 will be published on the website giro2026.visitsofia.bg. According to him, the first buses and trams featuring the symbols and mascot of Giro d’Italia can already be seen on the streets of Sofia.
“I hope many Sofia residents will take part in this celebration and that we will showcase the very best of our city and of Bulgaria, because it will be watched by hundreds of millions and will have many long-lasting positive effects on the city and the country,” Terziev added.
Participating in the event at the BTA Press Club were also government ministers, representatives of the local authorities, sport and sectoral organization, and public media 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.