Cycling Tour of Bulgaria Kicks Off

The 60th Cycling Tour of Bulgaria kicked off Saturday at 12.00 EET in downtown Sofia.

The tour started at Narodno Sabranie Square in front of the Bulgarian Parliament and will finish September 19 in front of theTown Hall of Teteven  in central Bulgaria.

More than 120 cyclists racing for 21 teams will compete over the 1566 km track.

The first stage of the international cycling race is the longest at 217 km and one of the harder ones. It passes through Zheleznitsa on the outskirts of Sofia, Samokov, then on to Dupnitsa, Blagoevgrad, Bansko, and ends in south-western town of Gotse Delchev.

Four Bulgarian teams - from Troyan (Hemus), Nessebar, Dobrich (2005) and Plovdiv (Tsar Simeon) - will be featured in the competition.

Among the stars of the Tour of Bulgaria are Russian Katyusha team and Brandenburg from Germany, as well as the national teams of the Ukraine and Germany. Famed Spanish cyclist Francisco Mancebo will also competе.

Last year the Cycling Tour of Bulgaria was wan by Bulgarian star Ivaylo Gabrovski, who was first also in 2003, 2006, and 2008.

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