This page contains the stage podium, the race story, GC implications after the stage, and per-rider performance. Read no further if you intend to watch this stage unspoiled.
Paul Magnier opened the Giro with a flat Black Sea bunch sprint in Burgas — first WorldTour Grand Tour stage win, first maglia rosa, in the Bulgarian Grande Partenza. Lund Andresen 2nd, Vernon 3rd. Milan fourth in his Giro opener.
147 km along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast from Nessebar to Burgas, finishing on two laps of a short city circuit. A late crash inside the final 3 km meant same-time bunch credit for GC; the front of the sprint was contested clean. Magnier — Soudal's 22-year-old French sprinter — claimed his first Grand Tour stage and the first maglia rosa of the 2026 Giro.
First leader's jersey to Magnier on time bonuses. The opening trio of stages in Bulgaria were always going to be a holding period for GC; the climbing returned with Stage 7.
Opened the 2026 Giro with a clean bunch-sprint win in Burgas on the Bulgarian Grande Partenza, pulling on the first maglia rosa of the edition. The 21-year-old Soudal Quick-Step fast man timed the gallop perfectly to announce himself as the sprint to beat.
Fourth in the Giro opener — solid but Lidl-Trek's lead-out couldn't quite get Milan to the front of the sprint train. The week ahead had three more flat stages for him to convert.
Late crash inside the final 3 km on the Burgas circuit; same-time rule applied.