Overview
- The 109th Giro d’Italia starts Friday in Bulgaria with a flat Nessebar–Burgas stage, launching 184 riders from 23 teams before the race returns to Italy and ends in Rome on May 31.
- Two‑time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard said in Burgas he is “here to win,” and sportsbooks make him the clear overall favorite as he pursues career wins in all three Grand Tours.
- Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan is the market pick for the opening sprint and the points jersey, building on past wins in the Giro’s ciclamino classification.
- The 21‑stage route includes a 40.2 km individual time trial from Viareggio to Massa expected to reshape the standings, plus key mountain tests at Blockhaus, Aosta–Pila, and a Dolomite ‘queen stage’ to Alleghe over Passo Giau, the Cima Coppi.
- Coverage highlights the money behind the Grande Partenza and finish, with reports of over €8 million paid this year for the foreign start, about €12 million per season from Rai for broadcast rights, and €1.2 million a year from Rome to host the finale.