“The Road to the Top” – this is the slogan of “Groma Hold’s” campaign, which this year will sponsor the second edition of L’Etape България от Tour de France. It will take place again in the summer, on July 27 and 28, in the Velingrad area.
The legendary cycling race is part of the global L’Etape by Tour de France series, and the Bulgarian organizer is the Sports Club “Sport for All – Sofia.”
“For us, our partnership with L’Etape Bulgaria by Tour de France is an important recognition of our work because, with the help of this internationally recognized race, we showcase the roads we build, not only as construction projects but also as an overall positive experience. Last year, we helped create the first challenging gravel section in the history of the race. This year, we are building on our partnership and putting even more energy into making the race bigger and more successful. We are pleased that the roads we build – even in the most inaccessible regions such as the Rhodopes – give Bulgarian towns a European look, connect people and local communities, and open up new opportunities for culture, sports, and business,” says Viktor Velev, manager of “Groma Hold”.
The first edition of the legendary cycling race in Bulgaria attracted enormous interest. Over 850 participants from 22 countries took part in the race. Their average age was 40.4 years, and 85 of them were women. The oldest participant was 79 years old.
L’Etape Bulgaria by Tour de France was the second largest race in the Balkans under the auspices of the world cycling brand Tour de France (after Romania and Greece). The competition in Bulgaria took place on a specially selected scenic route in the Rhodope Mountains, including two distances – long (102 km) and short (57 km), with a maximum elevation gain of 1,700 meters.
The young skiing hopeful Borislav Hadzhistoyanov from Razlog won the long distance of 102 km with a time of 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. In the short distance of 57 km, the best was our renowned cyclist Danail Petrov, who completed the route in 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 51 seconds.
All participants welcomed the challenge prepared for them by the organizers – a gravel section between the Rhodope villages of Tsvetino and Gorna Dabeva. Such a challenge tests not only the speed but also the technique of the cyclists. The gravel section was leveled and prepared according to special requirements by the equipment and teams of “Groma Hold”.
“Our company remains firmly committed to supporting cultural and sporting initiatives. In addition to L’Etape Bulgaria by Tour de France, we also support the Sportika women’s football team in Blagoevgrad because we believe that sport not only helps build character and drive, but also creates and maintains communities,” adds Viktor Velev.
“Without the support of “Groma Hold”, the success of L’Etape by Tour de France would not have been possible. We are delighted that in this serious company, a leader in infrastructure construction, we have not only a sponsor but also a true ally in supporting the cause of cycling in Bulgaria,” says Daniel Dukov, organizer of the race.
Registration for the second edition of L’Etape Bulgaria by Tour de France is now open to anyone who wants to experience the legendary cycling race in the Western Rhodopes region: https://bit.ly/3uY3I5H
