The 109th edition of the Giro d'Italia officially began today with a historic start in Bulgaria, marking the first time the prestigious Grand Tour has visited the country. Stage 1 features a 147 km flat route starting in the ancient seaside town of Nessebar and finishing in Burgas along the Black Sea coast. The stage is perfectly suited for elite sprinters like Dylan Groenewegen and Arnaud De Lie, who are battling for the first Maglia Rosa(pink jersey) of the 2026 season. 

The race will spend three days in Bulgaria visiting Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia before transferring to Italy for the remainder of the 3,459 km journey toward the finish line in Rome. This year's route is notably built for climbers, featuring seven summit finishes and a decisive individual time trial on Stage 10. Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard is among the heavy favorites, though he faces stiff competition from a field of specialists eager to exploit the steep Apennine and Alpine passes. 

Local festivities have taken over the Bulgarian capital, with a "Cycling Village" established at Alexander Nevsky Square and a mass "Sofia Rides Giro" parade scheduled to coincide with the third stage. For Bulgaria, hosting the Grande Partenza is a landmark achievement in its sporting history, blending professional racing with cultural showcases like the Wine & Gourmet Festival in Plovdiv. Fans are already lining the coastal roads as the peloton embarks on the three-week endurance test.