Road closures warning ahead of Ironman challenge

A gruelling triathlon will return this weekend, with competitors set to take the plunge into Pennington Flash and cycle on the borough's roads.
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Last year's event

Ironman UK will start with 2,500 triathletes from around the world swimming two laps - a total of 2.4 miles - at the beauty spot.

The race begins at 6am on Sunday and participants must finish the swim in two hours and 20 minutes. After leaving the water, the competitors will get on their bikes for a 112-mile ride north into Lancashire.

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They will cycle along Atherleigh Way, onto Gibfield Park Way in Atherton and head

towards Westhoughton.

When the cyclists reach Adlington, they will follow a two-lap circuit around Chorley and Leyland, which takes in parts of Wrightington and Standish.

The final part of Ironman UK involves running a marathon - 26.2 miles - in Bolton.

Thousands of people are expected to line the route to cheer on the participants and some road closures will be in place locally.

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Leigh and Pennington Flash: Atherleigh Way will be closed from the junction with St Helens Road to the roundabout joining Gibfield Park Way between 6am and 9am. Travel is possible on the A577, where there will be a crossing point, but there may be long delays. Drivers are advised to use the A580 East Lancashire Road instead.

Atherton: Gibfield Park Avenue will be closed from Wigan Road, up to and including North Road and Platt Lane. These roads should be avoided between 6am and 9.30am.

Standish: Boundary Lane and Pepper Lane will be closed from 8am to 4pm, as well as Preston Road between Pepper Lane and Coppull Moor Lane. The diversion route will be along Crow Orchard Road, Shevington Lane, Almond Brook Road, School Lane and Preston Road.

Wrightington: Road closures will be in place on the bike course from 8am to 4pm as it follows High Moor Lane, Robin Hood Lane, Moss Lane, Courage Low Lane, Toogood Lane and on to Church Lane. Wood Lane will also be closed northbound.