What if the Giro's expansion to the East didn't end today? The main suspect to replace Bulgaria as the country hosting the Grand Start is neighboring Romania, not only because Hungary has already had its turn, as have Greece and Albania, not to mention the Bulgarians, who took to the roads for the pink race far more than one might have expected given the sport's weak roots there.

Cătălin Sprînceană, the young (born 1983) President of the Romanian Cycling Federation, brings clarity to the matter by setting a deadline: the Giro could arrive in Bucharest within three years, in 2029.

The vice president of the Balkan Cycling Union, commentator for Eurosport Romania, doesn't hide the contours of the challenge and confirms that to host three days with Vingegaard and company on their bikes, Bulgaria spent around 15 million euros, an investment that according to Sprînceană would be amply justified by the economic returns generated.

"Since the Giro is broadcast in 200 countries, in these hours Bulgaria has been discovered by 10 million people through television. An opportunity for promotion capable of providing a return in just three days. I was in Rome in December, when the 2026 edition of the pink race was presented, and I realized the economic impact including hotel rooms occupied by the race caravan," explained the Romanian federation's top official to colleagues at Pro Sport.

Without hiding concern about the turbulence on Bucharest's political scene, Sprînceană reiterates the strong interest in bringing the Giro to Romania, promising to channel all energies toward that goal. In the meantime, regarding the possible Grand Start, the Romanian federation has introduced an important novelty for 2026: the Tour of Romania, five stages from September 9 to 13, will start from nearby Chișinău, capital of the Republic of Moldova. A bridge of brotherhood that also reflects their shared European identity.

Getting back to the pedaling, in July the prestigious Turul Subiu (2.1 category with Bernal also in its roll of honor) will take on the task of reviving a classic like the Carpathian Stelvio, the scenic Transfagarasan road that leads to Balea Lac (2,034 meters). In an article for Ziarul Financiar, a financial newspaper, Sprînceană has stressed the need to reap the benefits of the recent protocol between the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Economic Development and Tourism (Medat) and the National Sports Agency. A document aimed at transforming sporting competitions into an engine for the country's development and promotion. The article doesn't paint a rosy picture and underscores how many steps forward must be taken to achieve true sports tourism in Romania. The Romanian cycling federation, committed to bringing more practitioners, especially young people, to the sport of cycling, also boasts the organization of the European cross-country cycling championship, held at Cheile Gradistei with success for our Avondetto. Now is the horizon turning pink?