Giro 2026 Route stage 2: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo

Saturday, 9 May – Stage 2 of the Giro takes the riders from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo. The 221-kilometre route runs from the Black Sea coast into the hilly interior. The finale is spiced up by a hefty leg-breaker 11 kilometres from the finish, plus two cobbled sectors inside the last 3 kilometers, one of which uphill.

Last updated 9 May 2026 – last updated 9 May: link to race results added

Burgas lies on the coast of the Black Sea. From there, the peloton heads into Bulgaria’s interior, following an almost straight line westwards. The riders travel westwards towards Sliven before the landscape changes from flat to hilly. They crest the Byala Pass after 7.7-kilometre of climbing at an average gradient of 4.6%. Immediately after the (short) descent the next ascent begins: the Vratnik Pass, which rises for 9.2 kilometres at an average of 4%, topping out at 920 metres above sea level.

There will undoubtedly be riders in the breakaway who fancy their chances of picking up points for the mountains jersey on both passes. The odds of the break surviving all the way to the third and final climb of the day are slim. The summit of the hairpin-laden climb to the Lyaskovets Monastery lies just 11 kilometres from the finish. It's an irregular ascent: 3.9 kilometres at an average of 6.8%, including a 1-kilometre stretch at 9.8% near the bottom.

The riders descend towards an intriguing finale, as two cobbled sectors lie in wait to spice up the action. The first is flat, while the second forms part of a 1-kilometre rise at 5.8%. After the flamme rouge, the road levels out again.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 2nd stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint at kilometre 205.5; at the finish line, 10, 6 and 4 await the first three riders.

Another interesting read: results 2nd stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.