Under perfect blue skies and ideal racing conditions, more than 1,000 riders gathered for a memorable day inspired by the Tour de France. From ambitious competitors chasing victory to families discovering the joy of cycling, the event once again brought together an entire community around the sport.

Four formats catered to cyclists of every level: the Long Race (112 km with 2,200 m of climbing), the Short Race (58 km with 1,100 m of ascent), the Kids Race, and the Fun Ride. Whether riders were taking on the legendary climbs or enjoying a relaxed ride with family and friends, everyone experienced the unique atmosphere that makes L’Étape Series events so special.

The now iconic course showcased the very best of the Rhodope Mountains. Starting in the heart of Peshtera, participants tackled the demanding St. Konstantin climb before enjoying spectacular panoramic views. The route continued alongside the peaceful Batak Reservoir, passed through the historic town of Batak, and returned to Peshtera, where enthusiastic spectators created an unforgettable finish-line atmosphere throughout the day.

The 112 km race started at 8:30 a.m., with the fastest riders reaching the finish in just over three hours. In the men's race, Gabriel Grozev claimed overall victory, earning the prestigious Yellow Jersey while also winning the King of the Mountains classification. Teodor Rusev and Borislav Hadzhistoyanov finished in second and third place. In the women's race, Yoana Valkanova delivered a dominant performance, winning not only the overall classification but also the Yellow Jersey, White Jersey, Green Jersey, and the Polka Dot Jersey. Elena Dobrantsa and Siya Ritchie completed the women's podium.

In the 58 km race, Koycho Shivikov crossed the finish line first in the men's category, ahead of Rostislav Kostadinov and Kalin Angelov. Stanislav Grabchev secured the Green Jersey, while Vladislav Mihaylov claimed the King of the Mountains title. In the women's race, Victoria Danova took overall victory and added both the Green Jersey and Polka Dot Jersey to her success. Blagomila Katsarska finished second, while Radost Ivanova completed the podium and won the White Jersey as the fastest young rider.

The official awards ceremony took place at 2:00 p.m. on Bulgaria Square in Peshtera. Prizes were presented by Race Director Daniel Dukov, Mayor of Peshtera Yordan Mladenov, Chairman of the Municipal Council Eng. Petar Yordanov, Bulgarian biathletes Milena Todorova and Vladimir Iliev, together with Théophile Rallet, representative of Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.).

Special recognition was also given through the DRAG Kilometer Challenge, where Yoana Valkanova and Stanislav Grabchev won premium carbon wheelsets for setting the fastest times in the final kilometre of the KOM Challenge. A brand-new DRAG bicycle was awarded by raffle to Mustafa Bornosuzov.

Blessed with perfect weather from start to finish, the fourth edition was a complete success. Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between the Municipality of Peshtera, local volunteers, public authorities, partners, and the organising teams, every aspect of the event, from safety and logistics to rider services and entertainment, ran seamlessly, allowing participants to fully enjoy the Tour de France experience.

More than just a cycling event, L’Étape Bulgaria continues to inspire people of all ages to embrace an active lifestyle. Riding on fully closed roads, supported by professional race infrastructure and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, participants enjoyed a unique opportunity to experience the sensations of the world's greatest cycling race.

Four editions in, L’Étape Bulgaria has firmly established itself as one of the country's premier sporting events and a key stop on the international L’Étape Series by Tour de France calendar. With its challenging course, exceptional organisation, passionate local community, and ever-growing enthusiasm, Peshtera continues to prove that it is the perfect home for this unique celebration of cycling.

As the event officially came to a close, Race Director Daniel Dukov and Mayor Yordan Mladenov thanked all participants, volunteers, partners and spectators for making the event possible and expressed their confidence that L’Étape Bulgaria by Tour de France will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.