The Big Start (Grande Partenza) of the 109th Giro d'Italia cycling tour showcased Bulgaria in an exceptionally positive light to the world. The first three stages of the Giro held on Bulgarian soil surprised even the organizers of one of the planet's largest sporting events. Perfect organization, excellent conditions, nationwide enthusiasm, and original ideas were the hallmarks of the Bulgarian portion of the tour.
"We have started from many places, but here we saw an incredible number of enthusiastic people. They supported us everywhere—all the competitors and us, the organizers. Now, the bar has been raised incredibly high, thanks to Bulgaria," stated Paolo Bellino, CEO of the Giro d'Italia. "The people in this country are so happy, so supportive—something like this has never happened before. We were shocked by such massive and unexpected enthusiasm. The atmosphere here is the best we have ever experienced at the Giro; the color pink is everywhere."
According to Bellino, the finale in Sofia—which became only the 13th capital city to host a stage in the tour's 109-year history—drew approximately 100,000 spectators. Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev noted that as many as 250,000 people took to the streets.
Taking into account the enthusiasm and TV footage, the total number of people lined up along the route and in the start/finish cities over the three days - Nesebar, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, and Sofia - is estimated at over 500,000. This represents an unprecedented turnout for any sporting event in Bulgaria.
A Worldwide Showcase
All these people, along with the municipalities through which the cycling column passed, did everything possible to capture the attention of the television cameras.
"What we saw on television is incredible," Paolo Bellino stated, and he was right. It wasn't just about the high-quality broadcast that introduced the world to the beauties of Bulgaria - something no standalone advertisement could achieve.
Simultaneously, municipalities organized fan zones, concerts, festivals, and various entertainment for residents and guests. Local creativity flourished, with organizations, clubs, and individual fans competing to show off something original; these creative displays reached TV viewers in 200 countries.
A Possible Return
According to Bellino, the Giro d'Italia could return to Bulgaria in the future.
"We worked very well with the government and the ministries. We bonded exceptionally well. We want to congratulate the whole country. Why shouldn't the Giro return to Bulgaria? Bulgaria is ready for professional racing. Everything was absolutely perfect," he concluded.
