Stage 3 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia runs 174 kilometers from Plovdiv to Sofia on May 10, crossing the Bulgarian interior before finishing in the capital. The route is mostly flat, though the steady climb through Borovet midway through the stage will test positioning and tempo without breaking the race apart. This is the last sprint opportunity before the race leaves Bulgaria, and the teams with fast finishers will want to control it before the mountains arrive.
The provisional startlist includes Kaden Groves, Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, and Pascal Ackermann, all of whom have shown early-season form. Juan Ayuso wrapped up the Volta ao Algarve with a stage win and the overall last weekend, but his role here will be to stay safe and save energy for the climbs ahead. The same applies to João Almeida, who finished third in Portugal and will be watching the road rather than contesting the finish.
How will the stage be won?
The climb through Borovet is steady enough to shed a breakaway if the peloton decides to chase hard, but not steep enough to drop the sprinters. Expect the fast finishers’ teams to keep the pace high on the climb and then organize the chase into Sofia. The finish is flat and wide, which favors pure speed over positioning, though crosswinds through the open terrain could complicate the final hour if the weather turns.
Groves has been the most consistent sprinter so far this season, and Alpecin-Premier Tech has the horsepower to deliver him into position. Milan is faster in a straight line when he gets clear air, but he needs a cleaner leadout than he’s had in recent races. Magnier and Ackermann are both capable of taking a stage if the favorites hesitate or crash out of contention.
What should you watch for?
Watch the Borovet climb around the halfway mark. If the peloton splinters there, it will tell you which teams are serious about controlling the stage and which are already looking ahead to the mountains. The final 20 kilometers into Sofia are flat and exposed, so positioning out of the last turn will matter more than raw speed. If the wind picks up, the stage could fracture earlier than expected, and GC riders will need to stay alert to avoid losing time in splits before the race even reaches Italy.
This is the last chance for the sprinters to take a stage win before the Giro turns into a climbers’ race. After Sofia, the route heads into the Balkans and then across to the Dolomites, where the maglia rosa will be decided. For now, the focus is on speed, positioning, and staying upright.