Technology powers fitness training in Cesena, Italy
The city of Cesena in Italy is located several dozen kilometres from Imola, which is famous for hosting rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
In the city of Cesena, the fitness company Technogym has built a global centre for sports science and innovation, launched the first World Treadmill Championship, and created a dedicated pathway towards the 2027 World Athletics Road Running Championships.
In Cesena, there is no deafening roar of racing engines, but the same competitive spirit attracts participants from around the world.
Completed in 2012, the Technogym Village on the outskirts of Cesena integrates a fitness centre, manufacturing facilities, and logistics operations, serving as the company’s global headquarters.
Inside a laboratory space named Technogym Lab, an athlete equipped with several circular white sensors performs running and jumping tests on treadmills and marked testing platforms. The systems surrounding the athlete precisely record every footstep, jump, and arm movement.
“This is the core of our research and innovation process,” said Silvano Zanuso, Director of Scientific Research at Technogym.
“Force platforms measure output, motion recording systems track movement trajectories, and sensors monitor muscle activity. Through this data, we analyse athletic performance, biomechanics, and movement efficiency, allowing us to design personalised training programmes,” he said.
Outside the laboratory, a strength training machine is on display. “This is the first fitness machine ever produced by Technogym,” explained Enrico Manaresi, Global Media Relations Director at Technogym.
In 1983, the company’s founder and president, Nerio Alessandri, established the business in his family’s garage in a small village near Cesena.
This small town has remained closely linked to the sports and fitness industry for over four decades. Every year, many athletes, doctors, researchers, and fitness experts from around the world visit the location for training and study. As a long-term official supplier to the Olympics, Technogym provides training equipment and technological support to Olympic athletes.
On 3 June, Technogym Village hosted the launch of the first World Treadmill Championship, another initiative related to running. In this 5-kilometre running competition, runners of all levels worldwide can compete using connected treadmills in certified centres. Results are displayed on a global online leaderboard. Athletes who qualify from the qualifying and regional rounds will be invited to the finals to be held next March at Technogym Village.
“I run on a treadmill two to three days a week. Running is a huge part of our market; 90 per cent of the athletics business is running. Hundreds of thousands of people run using Technogym technology every week. I believe this event will introduce our sport to younger generations, and that is good,” said Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics.
World Athletics will provide wildcard entries to the best male and female athletes from their respective member federations, giving them the opportunity to compete in the 5-kilometre running event at the 2027 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, Eastern China.