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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 本校公共事務中心(2025-04-03)

The Sports Technology Industry-Academia Alliance Holds Cycling Science Symposium, Focusing on Sports Medicine, Technological Applications, Cycling Biomechanics, and Gender Issues

To promote the integration of sports science knowledge into research and practical applications in cycling, the Sports Technology Industry-Academia Alliance of National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) held the 2025 Cycling Sports Science Symposium on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Gold Medal Hall of the Heping Campus Gymnasium. The symposium, themed “Triathlon Sports and Cycling Biomechanics: Injury Prevention and Performance Optimization,” brought together domestic and international experts in sports medicine, engineering, and athletic performance to explore new opportunities in scientific research, training, and industrial application through interdisciplinary exchange.

The event was organized by NTNU’s Sports Technology Industry-Academia Alliance, in collaboration with Master Smart Exercise Co., Ltd., National Tsing Hua University Sports Technology Center, and National Taiwan Sport University’s Talent Development Program for Sports Technology and Health Industry. Professor Tzu-Yuan Hsiang, the Alliance Director, noted, “We aim to gradually build a distinct Taiwanese cycling research culture through consistent, focused symposiums and workshops, and present locally rooted yet scientifically valuable research outcomes on the international stage.”

As a global powerhouse in bicycle manufacturing, Taiwan has long accumulated hardware technology and industrial capacity. However, there is still room for growth in academic development and the construction of a cycling sports culture. In response, this symposium launched in 2024 with the vision of establishing a local research community focused on cycling. Through regular gatherings and knowledge exchanges, the symposium seeks to foster a scientifically grounded and practice-oriented research culture and discussion platform. The 2025 symposium carries on this mission, expanding to include experts in biomechanics, physiology, sensor technology, and clinical medicine—showcasing Taiwan’s growing strength in advanced sports science research.

The event featured four keynote speeches:

• Dr. Fusco from the University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy, discussed the physiological impact of air pollution on urban cycling behavior, offering a novel direction for cycling research and product development.
• Dr. Kevin Woo, Orthopedic Surgeon at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, shared insights on triathlete preparation strategies and common lower-limb injury mechanisms and prevention methods.
• Professor Wei-Chun Hsu from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology analyzed cycling dynamics, posture control mechanisms, and various treatment methods and clinical cases.
• Last but not least, Professor Chia-Hsiang Chen from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology presented on the evolution and future of bike fitting.

These four speakers combined theoretical knowledge and clinical experience, offering interdisciplinary perspectives to deepen the integration of athletic performance and health maintenance.

In the afternoon, more than twenty research papers on cycling science were presented, covering topics such as the effects of the menstrual cycle on female athletes’ performance, fatigue characteristics during cycling, biomechanical parameter assessments, movement control strategies, and data analysis methods, etc. These papers demonstrated that Taiwan’s cycling research has progressed from basic observations to advanced model development and practical validation. Participating institutions included NTNU, National Tsing Hua University, National Taiwan Sport University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Chang Gung University, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), highlighting the active interaction between academia and clinical practitioners.

In addition, the Alliance has partnered with Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Taiwan’s leading bicycle brand, to promote mutual collaboration through joint R&D and technical consulting—laying a critical foundation for building a homegrown cycling research ecosystem.

Professor Tzu-Yuan Hsiang emphasized, “The real value of sports technology begins when hardware industries and academic knowledge are deeply integrated.” Looking ahead, NTNU’s Sports Technology Industry-Academia Alliance plans to collaborate with Master Smart Exercise Co., Ltd., ITRI, and other industry-government-academia research units to promote AI and ESG curriculum development, establish a coaching certification system for sports technology, and work closely with the National Sports Science Center to strengthen the integration of technology knowledge into talent training mechanisms—building a robust support network for both technical and academic development.

(Source: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences / Editor: Shih-Tse Hu / English Version Powered by ChatGPT, Edited by Serena H.)