The first victory for a Sicilian athlete at the Olympic Games dates back to 648 BC. In ancient Greece, the ancestors of today's Olympic Games were held from the 8th century BC onwards, once every four years as today. There were various types of games, but most of them were panhellenic: that is, they involved all the cities and colonies of Hellas, the Ancient Greek name for Greece. Many famous athletes of the time came from Crotone, in Calabria, southern Italy (Philip, Iscomachus, Timasiteus). One of the most important competitions of this 33rd Olympiad was pankration, an unarmed combat sport, and the event was won by Ligdami of Syracuse.

The ancient Greeks weren’t only philosophers – pankration was a strange sport halfway between today's boxing and mixed martial arts. It translates as 'full strength'. Cycling was certainly not present at the Olympic Games as the bicycle would not be invented for another 2,450 years. But what interests us here is to recall how the history of sport on the Sicilian coast has very ancient origins and brings back some truly incredible stories.

You can get a taste of this ancient sporting history by cycling on this route, which follows the Sicilian section of the Magna Graecia Cycle Route, a route that crosses the Italian regions most affected by Hellenistic colonisation. In this Collection, I reveal the Trinacria (the name of Sicily in the classical Greek period) section of the route. In Greek mythology, Trinacria was a gorgon with golden wings, snakes for hair and three legs.

From Messina to Pozzallo, a unique adventure on Sicily's east coast awaits you. Departure is from the Luigi Rizzo pier, easily accessible from all major Italian ports (Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia). Pozzallo is another important port: from here you can continue your journey to Malta or North Africa, or reach two important cities such as Ragusa or Syracuse by regional train. If you prefer to fly, the three airports on the island are Palermo, Trapani and Catania.

During your trip, you’ll get to know some of Sicily's most famous cities, such as Taormina, Syracuse, Marzamemi and Catania. These cities are so layered with history that the Greek one is only one of the interpretations you can give to the trip. Passing near Aci Trezza, for example, you’ll be in the places of ‘I Malavoglia’, the best-known novel by the famous Catanian writer Giovanni Verga.

It must be said that the further south you go, the hotter the climate. I advise you to avoid the hottest months because temperatures may often exceed 40° C. Each stage ends in a town of at least 10,000 inhabitants, but Sicily is also a rather remote and wild land, especially in the less touristy seasons, so wild camping is possible. Always ensure you bring enough food and water to sustain you on each Tour. Once you arrive at your destination for the day, you can enjoy delicious Sicilian cuisine.

A touring bike with wide tyres, a comfortable seat, and space to attach bags is the best choice for this route. The road surface is mostly paved, but from time to time you’ll encounter unpaved and stony sections. Although it always runs along the coast, the route has some wild and natural stretches. Watch out for dogs or other animals in the wild.

Along the way, be sure to stop as often as you can for a dip in the sea or a visit to an ancient Greek temple – this is the best advice I can give you. Have a good trip.