ROME (AP) — Next year’s Giro d’Italia will start with three stages in Bulgaria and will likely be decided in the Dolomites before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome.

The route for the 109th Giro, scheduled for May 8-31, was presented in Rome on Monday.

It’s the 16th time the Italian Grand Tour is starting abroad.

After the opening in Bulgaria, the peloton will fly to Calabria to begin a climb up boot-shaped Italy, passing through Naples and a difficult ascent to Blockhaus in Abruzzo.

The race’s only time trial is a 40.2-kilometer (25-mile) individual race against the clock in Stage 10 from Viareggio to Massa along the Tuscan coast.

The toughest leg, known as the queen stage, is slated to be Stage 19 from Feltre to Alleghe going over five climbs including the Passo Giau, which mark

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