Giro dell’Appennino 2026: sport, territory and well-being in Genoa

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the spotlight of Ligurian sport was on the 87th edition of the Giro dell’Appennino cycling race.

Young Tuscan rider Ludovico Crescioli, from the Polti-VisitMalta team, claimed victory at the finish line in Genoa, at the end of a 196.8 km race that started in Novi Ligure, in Piedmont. The day also brought great satisfaction to the event organizers, who saw the work of the Unione Ciclistica Pontedecimo rewarded through a route that showcased the Ligurian territory, with landscapes blending inland areas and coastline.

Alongside the sporting aspect, the event also had a strong focus on promoting well-being. On the occasion of the race, the Novo Nordisk Health Village was set up in Piazza Rossetti, a space dedicated to the public with the aim of encouraging healthy lifestyles and supporting the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The initiative, launched as part of the partnership between Novo Nordisk and the Coppa Italia delle Regioni, is part of the international “Cities for Better Health” program, active in Genoa since 2020.

At the Health Village, citizens had access throughout the day to free cardio-metabolic consultations, including body mass index measurement, waist circumference and assessment of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, also thanks to the support of students from the University of Genoa’s Motor Sciences program, in a perspective of training new generations.

The space also hosted an exhibition of drawings by pupils from Guglielmo Marconi Primary School, titled "La bici e la collina, una sfida entusiasmante", as well as public discussions and educational sessions led by experts on the relationship between urban health, physical activity, and prevention. At the same time, the Direzione Marketing Territoriale (Comune di Genova) promoted the project "Gli Anelli del Benessere", which encourages an active lifestyle through the discovery of the city and its circular urban trekking routes. The project’s presence at the stand was very successful, attracting the interest of many citizens who stopped to learn more about the routes, the initiative’s goals, and the opportunities it offers to experience Genoa in a more active, sustainable, and mindful way.

The Giro dell’Appennino proves to be an event capable of combining tradition, spectacle and the promotion of both young talents and experienced athletes, while also strengthening the role of sport as a vehicle for promoting health and the local territory.

Written by: Arianna Morello