Balgarianovinite.com The Giro d’Italia is not just a sporting competition but a journey that brings together regions, people, cultures, and economies under the banner of sport, Italy’s ambassador to Bulgaria Marcello Apicella said on Tuesday during an event at his residence in Sofia. The event focused on the so-called “cycling economy” just days before the race’s start in Bulgaria.
According to Apicella, this economic model goes beyond transportation and is directly linked to the future of cities and quality of life. He said that bicycles lie at the heart of a strategic sector generating value, employment, and innovation, worth around EUR 3 billion in core activity and approximately EUR 6 billion when the broader supply chain is included. In Italy, he added, the cycling economy is rapidly expanding.
He described it as a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing bicycle manufacturing, components and accessories, maintenance, digital services, shared mobility, cycling tourism, infrastructure, and urban planning. Italy, he said, takes pride in the global recognition of its manufacturers and the growth of cycling tourism, with overnight stays related to this sector reaching 49 million in 2025.
Apicella emphasized that the development of the cycling economy goes hand in hand with sustainable mobility, but unlocking its full potential requires investment in infrastructure, coordinated policies, incentives, and a shift in mobility culture.
Other speakers at the event included Paolo Bellino, General Manager of race organizer RCS Sport, and Cristiano De Rosa, owner of the bicycle brand De Rosa, whose models were showcased alongside those of other Italian producers.
Bellino announced that nearly 3,000 people involved in organizing the race will arrive in Bulgaria for its start. He praised the Bulgarian government and the sports minister for their work, describing the country as “fantastic” with “perfect roads”. The race, which will pass through Bulgaria from May 8 to 10, will be broadcast live on around 200 television channels worldwide and is expected to attract over 900 million viewers.
De Rosa also expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian people and highlighted the importance of Italy’s cycling industry, which uses the race as a global platform to showcase its high-quality products.
The event also featured a symbolic exhibition of Italian-made bicycles and equipment. Among the guests were caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports Dimitar Iliev, caretaker Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova, as well as diplomats and business representatives from Bulgaria and Italy. Giro d’Italia Is More Than a Race, Says Italian Ambassador Marcello Apicella 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-05 18:15:47 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law