Giro 2026 Route stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia

Sunday, 10 May – Stage 3 of the Giro features a single major obstacle: the Borovec Pass. Whether this 9.2-kilometre climb at 5.4% will be enough to prevent a bunch sprint remains to be seen. The summit comes far from the finish in the capital, Sofia, making it quite likely that the 175-kilometre stage will end in a fast finishers showdown.

Last updated 10 May 2026: link to race results added

Starting venue Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city. Like Rome, it was built on seven hills along a river — in Plovdiv’s case, the Maritsa. As with the other cities the Giro visits in Bulgaria, Plovdiv is a blank page when it comes to cycling history.

From Plovdiv, the peloton sets off westwards. The first 60 kilometres are almost completely flat. The road then begins to rise gently, but it isn’t until Raduil that the real climbing starts. The Borovec Pass, near the ski resort of Borovets, is 9.2 kilometres long. It’s a steady climb with an average gradient of 5.4%. Thanks to the forests lining the slopes, the riders are sheltered from any wind.

From the summit, with 71.8 kilometres remaining, the road descends virtually all the way to the finish in Sofia. With a population of 1.2 million, Bulgaria’s capital has plenty of potential spectators to cheer the riders on their way to a likely bunch sprint.

Whether it will come down to a sprint with the full peloton remains to be seen. Fast men will undoubtedly be dropped on the Borovec Pass. In theory, they will still have enough time to make their way back, but the descending roads will keep the pace high. Moreover, there are likely to be sprinters up front who would rather not see their rivals return, which could set up a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 3rd stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint at kilometre 162.0; at the finish line, 10, 6 and 4 await the first three riders.

Another interesting read: results 3rd stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.