Riders will race 1,153.7km and take on 12,500m of elevation gain, with an interesting fourth stage 12.7km mountain time trial between Belluno and Nevegal one of the highlights.

Bulgaria will host the first three stages of next year's Giro d'Italia, which will once again crown its champion in Rome.

This is 16th time the Giro which run from May 9-31, starts in a foreign country and the second time in a row after Albania hosted the opening three stages of this year's Giro, which was won by Britain's Simon Yates.

"There are still some decisions to be made behind the scenes with the team on whether I'll be here or not, but I would love to defend (the title)," Yates told reporters.

"I would love to be here, but it's not really my decision."

Since 2010, seven starts have taken place abroad, including in Jerusalem in 2018.

The peloton will begin the 2026 edition of the three-week grand tour by riding along the Black Sea coast between Nessebar and Burgas, RSC said during Monday's route reveal ceremony in the Italian capital.

Riders will then be faced with three category three climbs in a 220 kilometre run to Veliko Tarnovo, known as the "City of the Tsars", before the 174km stage three between Plovdiv and capital Sofia, which features one long category-two ascent to the Borovets Pass.

Riders will face 50,000 metres of elevation gain over 3,458km of racing, which will end with the now customary procession sta

ge around Rome.