The Black Sea will give way to Bulgaria’s interior in Stage 2 – a long trek of well over 200 km toward a thrilling finale where the Maglia Rosa could already change shoulders after the likely sprint of Stage 1.

The start will again be in Burgas, heading west across the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina) – the “Old Mountain” chain running through Serbia and Bulgaria. Midway through, riders will crest two Category 3 KOMs in quick succession: Byala Pass and Vratnik Pass. These climbs will spice up the battle for the King of the Mountains jersey.

The decisive point, though, will come in the finale: from Lyaskovets, the peloton climbs toward the Monastery, a 4 km ascent at about 7%, with just over 8 km to go. Expect fierce attacks and accelerations on those ramps. If, as likely, a sprinter still holds the Maglia Rosa, he’ll face a real struggle to hang on as both stage win and overall lead could be up for grabs.

The finish lies in Veliko Tarnovo, a city steeped in more than five millennia of history. It was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire from 1185 to 1393, when it fell under Ottoman rule. Its landmark Tsarevets Fortress, set atop the hill of the same name, once housed the royal palace, the patriarchate, and the main churches and defensive walls of the medieval capital.

Click here for more details on the Bulgarian stages of the Grande Partenza 2026!