Tour Type
Giro d'Italia REK
Riding Level
Avid
Location
Bulgaria & Italy
Duration
12 days | 11 nights | 9 stages
Length
1,000 + km
Climb
Flat, Hilly & Mountain
Experience the historic first-ever Grand Partenza in Bulgaria as the Giro d’Italia begins its 2026 journey! Join us for the official UCI Team Presentation in Burgas and soak up the electric atmosphere before riding the thrilling opening three stages from the Black Sea to the vibrant capital, Sofia. Then, continue your adventure in Southern Italy, starting on the Calabrian coast and riding every kilometre through the dramatic Apennines to gloriously chaotic Napoli. Conquer the legendary Abruzzo climbs where the pink jersey battle ignites, and push through to a summit finish near the Tuscany border. From the Black Sea to the heart of the Italian south - this is a week of Giro history, raw challenge, and unforgettable passion.
We’ve been an Official Tour Operator of the Giro d’Italia since 2016 – and in 2026, we’re proud to return as a Premium Tour Operator.
Be part of cycling history with the first-ever Giro d’Italia Grand Partenza in Bulgaria – then continue into the heart of Italy for a week of legendary climbs and full-throttle racing. This is your chance to Ride Every Kilometre of the Giro, just hours ahead of the pros.
Start with the explosive energy of the opening three stages in Bulgaria, riding the exact race route from the Black Sea to Sofia – 550 km and over 5,100 m of climbing in just three unforgettable days. From windswept coastal flats to the long climbs into Veliko Tarnovo and the finale in the historic capital, this is a rare opportunity to experience a Grand Tour launch like never before.
Then transfer to Southern Italy for Week 1 of the Giro, riding over 1,098 km and climbing 16,350+ metres across six brutal stages. Begin on the scenic Calabrian coast and dive straight into the Apennines, tackling the epic 204 km to Potenza and the fearsome Blockhaus summit. You’ll ride through gloriously chaotic Napoli, past the Amalfi Coast, and end your week in Tuscany with a mountaintop finish near Lucca.
“There is nothing quite like riding on the full route of the Giro d’Italia, with thousands of supporters on the road cheering us on and the peloton only an hour or two behind us.” – Keith Tuffley, Founder of Grand Tours Project and the mind behind the “Ride Every Kilometre” concept.
No one else offers this fully supported Ride Every Kilometre (REK) experience – only with Grand Tours Project can you ride the entire race route, every single kilometre, and live the Giro like a pro.
You don’t need to be an elite athlete, but you do need to be fit and ready for consecutive long days in the saddle. Expect early starts and long rides, sometimes finishing just an hour ahead of the race leaders. There’s always time for coffee, lunch, and photo stops along the way.
Spaces are limited with a high guide-to-cyclist ratio, accompanied by a support vehicle. As an Official Tour Operator, we’ll have full support throughout, ensuring you reach the finish line each day. Riding the course just hours before the pros is an unforgettable way to start your Giro adventure.
We are a global cycling business, welcoming guests from all over the world, offering a diverse community and the chance to forge new friendships. We are also proud supporters of women’s cycling and consistently welcome a growing proportion of female guests.
This is the definitive Giro d’Italia experience – demanding, exhilarating, and unforgettable. Are you ready to ride every kilometre?
Cover photo credit: giroditalia.it
Flexible Options
The tour begins as you arrive in Burgas, the vibrant port city situated on the beautiful Black Sea coast. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in and bike assembly. Once the bikes are ready, we will head out for a gentle welcome ride along the famous Sea Garden (Morska Gradina) promenade, allowing you to stretch your legs and acclimatize to the historic Bulgarian setting.
The day concludes with a tour briefing and a traditional Bulgarian welcome dinner.
Today is the first challenge: you will Ride Every Kilometre of Stage 1! Starting hours before the professional peloton, you will conquer the full, history-making stage route. Upon finishing your ride, change at the hotel and enter the exclusive VIP Hospitality area near the finish line in Burgas, enjoying refreshments and an unparalleled view as you watch the Pros battle for the first Maglia Rosa.
Another day, another full stage. Today you will ride a demanding route that crosses a significant portion of the Balkan mountains before descending toward the stunning finish in Veliko Tarnovo. This city, known as the “City of the Tsars,” is dramatically situated on the Yantra River and is crowned by the magnificent Tsarevets Fortress. The reward is immense: you will ride across the official finish line and have your photo opportunity standing on the Giro Winners’ Podium! Following the exhilaration, you will be transferred to Plovdiv for the next days start of the final Bulgarian leg.
Today is the final stage on Bulgarian soil. This route carries you across the Bulgarian plains before culminating in the historic capital, Sofia. The city is one of Europe’s oldest capital cities, dramatically situated at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain and nearby magnificent landmarks such as the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the ancient Serdica ruins, remnants of the Roman city upon which modern Sofia stands.
After conquering this final stage, the team will help pack up the bikes and transfer you directly to Sofia International Airport. You will catch an evening flight across the Adriatic to Lamezia Terme Airport in Calabria, Italy, ready to begin the Italian segment of the Giro tour. Upon your late arrival, the team will ensure a smooth transfer to your hotel, allowing you the luxury of sleeping in the next day to fully recover.
Today is a rest day dedicated to assembling your bike and ensuring all your equipment is perfectly prepared for the week ahead. If time allows, we will enjoy a short Welcome Ride – an easy spin along the Ionian coast.
During the day, the GTP team will collect Week 1 riders starting in Calabria, from Lamezia Terme Airport. New arrivals will have bikes assembled and fitted, followed by a Welcome Ride to ensure the bikes are ready and legs and lungs are refreshed. The day concludes with a Welcome Briefing and dinner, where you’ll meet the Grande Partenza REK riders, along with the GTP support team. It’s the perfect moment to settle in, connect with the group, and feel the excitement of the Giro building ahead of your first stage tomorrow.
Today the Giro starts on Italian soil. Leaving the Ionian coast of Catanzaro, the route immediately guides you inland, away from the sea toward the mountainous heart of Calabria. This is a demanding rolling stage through the rugged Apennine foothills. You will push through dense forests and small, historic mountain towns before concluding the stage in Cosenza, a beautiful city situated where two rivers meet. This stage sets a strong tone for the challenges awaiting in the mountains further north.
Starting from the stunning coastal town of Praia a Mare (known for the beautiful Isola di Dino), the route immediately launches inland, leaving the Tyrrhenian coast behind. This is a monumental day covering 204 km with a grueling 3,950 metres of climbing. The route travels through the high, rolling terrain of Basilicata, demanding consistent effort and climbing prowess as you cross the rugged Apennines. You will battle several dramatic ascents and descents before reaching the summit finish in Potenza, the highest regional capital in Italy, providing an immense sense of accomplishment.
Today promises a spectacular blend of ancient history and metropolitan cycling excitement as you Ride Every Kilometre of Stage 6. Starting near the astonishing Greek temples of Paestum, the route heads north along the beautiful coastline packed with scenic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The route culminates in a thrilling, fast run-in to the vibrant, chaotic streets of Napoli, where the fight for the stage win is fierce, often decided in a dramatic sprint finish along the iconic seafront.
Today is a colossal commitment – the ultimate early test of endurance and climbing ability. Starting from Formia, this stage requires a necessary early start to ensure you remain ahead of the official road closures, the Giro caravan, and the professional peloton itself, given the stage’s immense length. The route traverses the Apennine spine, building fatigue before the decisive climax on the brutal, legendary ascent of the Blockhaus. Known as one of Italy’s hardest climbs, the final ascent features relentless, double-digit gradients that have historically shattered the peloton and defined the fate of the Maglia Rosa. Completing this stage is a massive mountaineering achievement on two wheels.
Following the huge mountain challenge of Blockhaus, today could be considered a ‘recovery day’! Starting in Chieti, the route heads north along the flat Adriatic coastline. This is far from a rest day; first up a relatively easy flat stretch to loosen up the legs and then concentrated short and steep climbs of the Adriatic area to finish the stage. The stage concludes in the historic hilltop town of Fermo, a scenic finish that demands power right up to the final line.
Today is the final, decisive battle before the Giro’s next rest day. Starting on the flat Adriatic coast in Cervia, the route quickly leaves the Emilia-Romagna plains, crossing the Apennine Mountains toward the Tuscan border. The day culminates in the brutal ascent to Corno alle Scale, a legendary summit finish. This climb is particularly significant as it was a favourite training ground for the late, great Marco Pantani. The stage demands strategic conservation of energy before the punishing final climb, where you will push your limits to reach the summit and complete the monumental Giro d’Italia Week 1 REK Challenge. The team will transfer you to your hotel in Lucca and later the final celebratory dinner.
Your Grande Partenza and Week 1 REK challenge officially concludes today. Following a final Tuscan breakfast, the Grand Tours Project team will coordinate your departure, providing transfers directly from the hotel to Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport for flights home, or to the Pisa/Lucca train stations for onward travel by rail.
Congratulations! Over the past week, you have fully immersed yourself in the high-stakes start of the Giro d’Italia. You navigated the challenging terrain of Calabria and the Apennines, securing a monumental achievement by conquering the colossal Blockhaus summit finish. Your triumph in the mountains sets the tone for your future Grand Tour challenges!
If this appeals to your sense of adventure, a desire for a real challenge, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Giro d'Italia "Ride Every Kilometre" Tour, 2024
“Now my third year in a row riding with GTP and already looking forward to seeing you all again in 2025!”
