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Why the 2026 Giro d'Italia starts in Bulgaria
3 June 2026·5 min read
For the first time in history the Giro d'Italia didn't start in Italy, but on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. A guide to the unusual Grande Partenza.
Three days on the Black Sea
From glamorous Nessebar via Burgas to the historic city of Veliko Tarnovo and capital Sofia: three days that saw the Giro start outside Italy for the first time ever.
A rest day as a travel day
The price of a far-flung Grande Partenza: a full rest day was spent travelling from Sofia to Calabria, on the other side of the continent — giving this Giro three rest days instead of the usual two.
Magnier profits first
Paul Magnier won two of the three Bulgarian stages, wearing the very first maglia rosa of this Giro — the start of an edition in which he'd eventually also win the points classification.
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