The Bulgarian leg of the Giro d'Italia is nearing its end, but the final day of the Grand Partenza—also known as the Grand Start—promises to bring the magic of the Giro d'Italia to Bulgaria's two largest cities: Sofia and Plovdiv. After the spectacular success in Nesebar, Burgas, and Veliko Tarnovo, where tens of thousands of people from all age groups came out to cheer on the world's best cyclists, it is now Sofia and Plovdiv's turn to solidify the impression that Bulgaria can host international sporting events.
The final competitive day, before the Giro heads back to its home in Italy, will begin in Plovdiv. From the Central Square, Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov will kick off the stage at 13:15, and approximately four hours later, the participants will arrive at the National Assembly building. Over this period, they will have to cover 175 kilometers. The first hundred kilometers to Borovets will be a gradual ascent, while the final 75 kilometers will mostly involve descending.
Experts predict that the finish will be decided by a mass sprint, especially since the final eight kilometers along "Tsarigradsko Shosse" to the National Assembly are entirely straight. Both Plovdiv and Sofia have organized accompanying programs with cycling events.
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