A circuit unlike any other. The Coppa Jonica is the jewel in the crown of the CSAIn Sicilia season , but its construction and appeal extend far beyond the island's borders. Indeed, it can and must be a catalyst for attracting cyclists to discover enchanting corners of Sicily, those less traveled by normal tourist routes.
One thing needs to be made clear right away: the Coppa Jonica has nothing to do with competitive cycling; it's a series of events designed to get people pedaling, taking actual bike rides. This is the foundation on which the circuit was born, as explained by Renato Da Campo , head of the organizing staff.
«I've always been involved in cycle tourism – he explains and smiles – because I'm a poor competitive athlete, so I looked for an escape… The idea of travelling and discovering new regions , new routes, has always been one of my passions.
Cycling as a way to discover the territory
A few years ago, I got into the world of randonnées, but even there I saw that although the basic spirit should be non-competitive, there were those who interpreted them that way. I don't like this idea. For me, cycling should be about discovering the territory , from a landscape, architectural , and even gastronomic point of view . So, overly long routes aren't a good idea, nor is timing.
The idea for the Coppa Jonica was therefore born on completely different grounds: " We planned distances, usually under 100 kilometers, with the aim of exploring the landscape or what the area has to offer, to encourage people to do so. We proposed routes that weren't too difficult, with something to see. We put together a calendar of events accessible to everyone, without any competitive ambitions."
The 8 stages of the circuit
These are the events that make up the Coppa Jonica, which opened today in Sicily with the Aretura Offroad in Belvedere, in the province of Syracuse. A total of eight events span four provinces. The event concludes in November with the Ciclopedalata degli Erei.
| Date | Destination | Try it now | Land |
| 12th April | Belvedere (SR) | Aretusa Offroad | Gravel/MTB |
| 3st May | Cassibile (SR) | Baroque Cycle Ride | Road |
| 24st May | Scicli (RG) | Cycle ride from the sea to the Baroque | Gravel/MTB |
| 31st May | Nicolosi (CT) | GF Tour of Etna | Road |
| 19th July | Misterbianco (CT) | Misterbianco Cycle Ride | Road |
| August 2th | Santa Venerina (CT) | 19th Monsieur 1.600/3.000 | Road |
| 18 October | Pietraperzia (EN) | Rocks and Flavours | Gravel/MTB |
| November 8 | San Michele di Ganzaria (CT) | Erei Cycle Ride | Road |
Four provinces in eastern Sicily
The events span four Sicilian provinces, across eight events. The Cup is held in the eastern part of the island for specific reasons: " It's wrong to think that Sicily's problem is the Strait of Messina Bridge . The reality is that getting from Catania to Trapani is a never-ending journey. Traveling from one part of Sicily to the other is too costly, not only in terms of money but also time."
We wanted to think of trips that would allow them to be completed in a single day, avoiding overnight stays that would drive up costs. So while there are cyclists willing to spend thousands of euros on a bike, when you tell them to spend a hundred euros for a weekend getaway and a ride, they say no . So we try to do things closer to home.
The reasons for the 8 choices
All eight trials revolve around the CSAIn world: " When choosing, the first consideration was the local area, then we focused on tradition . Let's say the idea is always to get something in return, for the ride. So Etna as a landscape, the Baroque for the architecture and cuisine, because both on Etna and in Syracuse, you can find something characteristic to eat.
"Our idea," Da Campo continues, "is to bring together sport, tourism, and local development. It's certainly important that an organization like CSAIn, which has always believed in promoting outdoor sports and sustainable mobility , is behind it. So we're not just talking about sporting events, but also about events with a strong social impact. For me, this is what it means to fully experience cycling: discovering the local area."
No subscription, to choose the stages
The circuit's rules are quite simple: there's no subscription, but you sign up directly for each individual event. To be ranked, you have to complete at least five: "We need to make a specific point about this, otherwise it would seem like we're contradicting our intention of not involving competitive racing. First of all, there's no subscription because we want to give everyone the freedom to participate without restrictions. Everyone should be free to participate in the event they choose. Calling it a ranking bothers me; I'd call it more of an end-of-year awards ceremony where we'll recognize all finishers."
The first stage is scheduled for today, and will continue until November. The events are all different, not only in terms of location and distance, but also in terms of the bikes chosen, between road and off-road. The circuit is in its infancy, but the attention it's receiving is very encouraging: " Over the years, we've noticed a decline in participants, and this is well-established, but few people point out that in events, starting with the granfondos, the riders are always the same.
An aging sector
"Looking at the rankings, we see that the older the categories get, the more they become populated by longtime enthusiasts, but those aged 20 to 35 are increasingly scarce. There's no turnover. So just having a hundred or so people say 'yes, I want to participate' is a success given the numbers we have now , so the feedback we're getting is very positive, also because we want to give the best to those who come."
