Fasten your laces: in this issue we’re taking you on a true Giro d’Italia. A journey across our peninsula, from north to south, exploring the spirit, the places, and the stories that bring our community to life.
The first stage takes us to Riva del Garda, host of the European Outdoor Week (EOW). Following the success of its first edition – which attracted over 8,000 visitors from more than 60 countries – the European Outdoor Group (EOG) and the MagNet Group (which includes Running Magazine) have extended their partnership through at least 2029 (read more about it on page 10). This agreement is an important development that brings certainty to the sector and allows companies to plan with confidence. As Christian Schneidermeier, Managing Director of EOG, said: “It will be a huge pleasure to return to Riva, a splendid setting for our annual gathering with the outdoor sector”.
From the shores of Garda, we briefly return ‘home’ to Milan, headquarters of our publishing group. On June 24, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of WHY RUN – the home for Milanese runners – which opened in Corso Sempione 6 in 2021, building on Sportland’s thirty-plus years of experience (see page 31 for the full story). “This anniversary does not represent a finish line, but a new starting point”, declared Michele Odolini, CEO of Sportland and WHY RUN. “We will continue to invest in people, in the culture of running, and in the growth of our community. The next big and ambitious goal is to bring the WHY RUN experience to Rome, creating a new home for runners and continuing to promote a model that generates well-being, connections, and value for cities”. Leaving the energy of the city behind, we turn towards one of the Alps’ most unspoiled landscapes: Monviso, an area of extraordinary natural heritage. It is here that every year many athletes choose to return to run the 100 Miglia Monviso, demonstrating that telling the story of a place through sport is always a winning formula. Building connections, strengthening community bonds, enhancing local identities, and fostering sustainable tourism are the elements that make this event much more than a race (discover more on page 30).
From the majestic tranquility of the Piedmontese Alps we descend towards the coast, welcomed by the unique warmth of the Riviera Romagnola. From May 28 to 31 we attended RiminiWellness, where for the past four years, the off-site event RiminiWellnessOFF has brought the energy of movement and fitness beyond the exhibition pavilions, engaging the entire city. We spoke with Valentina Fioramonti, Group Exhibition Manager Wellness & Outdoor of Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), about this vision of well-being spreading throughout the local area (read the interview on page 22). “We are already thinking about the future evolution of the event and, starting from 2027, we are evaluating the creation of an area entirely dedicated to the outdoor experience. The idea is to propose walking and running not only as sports and wellness disciplines, but also as opportunities to discover the local area, with routes that can showcase cities, landscapes, or tie into literature and local culture”.
Continuing along the Adriatic coast, we make a stop in Senigallia, a beautiful city in the Marche region where Davide and Alessandra Chiacchiarini have opened the second location of Caraffa Sport & Run, a new space dedicated to walking, running, and trail (you can read the interview on page 32). It’s a strategic move in a dynamic region with a natural affinity for outdoor sports. “We chose the heart of the historic center, in the pedestrian area, because here the shop becomes part of the city”, explain the founders. “People stroll through the streets, enjoy local events, breathe the history, the culture, and the atmosphere of one of the Adriatic coast’s best-known destinations. Senigallia is a lively city all year round, with a strong sports identity”.
In previous issues we traveled all over Italy to interview 101 specialized running stores. On page 14 we bring you the final results of our exclusive survey – “101 Points of View” – analyzing the data we collected and revealing the brand that this year reached the top step of the podium as the industry’s breakout brand. But we want to give you a preview right away: the majority of those we interviewed gave 2025 a positive assessment, a sign of a market that, despite facing some challenges, continues to demonstrate stability and resilience.
Manuela Barbieri manuela.barbieri@mag-net.it
