Giro 2026 Route stage 1: Nesebăr – Burgas

Friday 8 May – The Giro d'Italia gets under way with a pan-flat opener on Bulgarian soil. The 147-kilometre stage is likely to erupt in a cracking sprint, so the fast men will be dreaming of the pink jersey.

Last updated 28 April 2026: link to the favourites for stage victory added

Suited for: sprinters
Interesting: first Grand Tour ever in Bulgaria

Spectators and riders alike will be treated all day to Black Sea sightseeing. The course loops endlessly along the water, showcasing every local beauty spot in lavish detail.

There isn’t so much as a pinprick of climbing to test the legs, although there are two KOM sprints on an intermediate circuit. Obviously, the 1.1-kilometre 'climb' at 2.5% is only there to crown a mountain king at the end of the day.

The Grande Partenza promises to be spectacular and blisteringly fast. The wind, however, may come into play along the coast. Unless it happens to be utterly still, the continual twisting and turning of the route should ensure the riders catch the breeze on their faces now and then. Even a near-certain sprint can be nudged in a particular direction by that.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 1st stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

The 1st stage of the Giro d’Italia starts at 13:50 and the race is expected to finish around 17:15 - both are local times (EEST). For details, see the timings in the slideshow below this article.

Also worth a read: favourites for the first pink jersey.