The UCI has imposed severe sanctions against the leadership of the Bulgarian Cycling Federation (BCF). According to the UCI, President Evgeniy Gerganov and Vice President Daniel Angelov have each been banned by the Ethics Commission from holding cycling official positions for two years. Both had been guilty of "serious ethical offences". Specifically, several articles of the UCI Code of Ethics were found to have been violated: Article 5 (General principles), Article 6.4 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) and Article 7.4 (Conflicts of interest). Angelov also violated Article 8.1, which concerns the manipulation of cycling events. In addition to the bans, fines were also imposed: Gerganov must pay 10,000 Swiss francs, Angelov 5,000 Swiss francs. The decision of the UCI Ethics Commission came just one day before a major announcement was made in Bulgaria regarding international cycling.
Giro d'Italia 2026 to start in Bulgaria
Despite the turbulence in the organisation's leadership, Bulgaria can look forward to a major cycling event. The Giro d'Italia is set to begin with three stages in the Eastern European country in 2026, as Bulgarian Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh announced at a press conference on Wednesday. After this year's start in Albania, the Tour of Italy may thus continue its tradition of occasionally organising the "Grande Partenza" (big start) outside of Italy. "The Giro d'Italia makes our country known in European and global tourism and visible as a travel destination. This will benefit our image enormously," explained Borshosh during the press conference. The exact dates and routes of the three Bulgarian stages will be announced at a later date.
Leon Weidner
Working student
