This year 120 cyclists from 20 teams from 3 continents and a total of 20 nationalities will take part in the race.
At an official press conference today the Bulgarian Cycling Federation (BFC) and the insurance company with the longest history in Bulgaria – DZI, announced details of the 69th cycling tour, which they are organizing jointly in the name of promoting cycling in Bulgaria.
Within 5 days 120 cyclists from 20 teams from 3 continents and 20 nationalities will ride over 800 km on a varied and quite difficult route throughout Bulgaria.
“I am happy that DZI is once again part of one of the longest-running cycling events in Europe and the world, which leaves a lasting mark in our sporting history. We are honored to cooperate with the Bulgarian Cycling Federation and take very warmly the mission to promote cycling, because it is not only a sport and a way of moving in the fast-paced urban environment, but also a way of life. I wish health, strength and will to win to all participants. I believe that once again the stages of the Tour will pass in the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship” – said Costa Cholakov, Chairman of the Board and CEO of DZI.
“For the first time in years, the Bulgarian national team will take part in the competition. A record 128 teams have come forward to take part in the competition this year. The event is gaining more and more popularity and I am glad that once again we have a stable partner in the face of DZI,” said Dragomir Kuzov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Cycling Federation (BCF).
The start of the tour will be given in the town. The Tour will start in Sofia on 27 August at 4 pm in front of the Alexander Nevski Monument, where the winners of the four leadership jerseys will be announced with a 1 km prologue.
On August 28, during the first and longest stage, the competitors will pass through the 177-kilometer route Sofia-Pazardzhik-Plovdiv, and the next day they will compete on the route Graf Ignatyevo-Karlovo-Troyan, covering 106 km. Stage 3A is 72 km on the route Troyan-Gabrovo, and stage 3B on the route Tryavna-Sliven (141 km) with an interesting climb from Byala to the finish in Sliven. Stage 4 is 144 km along the route Sliven-Karnobat-Burgas.
The stage that will put the grand finale to the 69th Tour of Bulgaria will be on September 1 on the last stage (160 km) Chirpan-Haskovo-Momchilgrad. There the winner and the winner of the yellow jersey of the Tour will be decided.