THOUSANDS of people are set to descend on Bolton to support the superhuman efforts of those taking part in the epic Ironman UK event.

Whether you are keen to support the swimming, boost the bikers or root for the runners — here are the best spots to catch all the Ironman action in Bolton and beyond.

SWIM

Athletes will complete a two-lap swim course, based at Pennington Flash Country Park in Leigh.

Starting at 6am the swim takes place 11 miles from Bolton town centre and starts from the eastern side of Pennington Flash.

The first athlete transition is based here on the picnic area next to the golf course. Pennington Flash is easily accessible from the A580 and M6.

You can watch the swim from the water’s edge at the Flash.

Parking will be available at the nearby Morrisons supermarket car park (post code: WN7 4JY) on the race morning.

Cars must be on site by 5.45am and will be locked in until at least 8.45 am.

BIKE

Athletes start the 112-mile bike course at Pennington Flash with the first athlete leaving

around 6:45am.

The route takes athletes from Leigh up through Horwich to Lancashire for 2 loops of a circuit.

The bike laps take them in an anti-clockwise loop around Lancashire taking in Belmont, Abbey Village, Buckshaw Village, Croston, Mawdesley, Wrightington, Standish, Adlington and Rivington.

The quickest pro athlete will do the bike course in around five hours.

The bike course can be difficult to view given the road closures in place for the event

and Ironman UK recommend viewing from one of five locations: Belmont, Adlington, Rivington, Hilldale or Standish.

Ironman also recommends not moving between these different hotspots but viewing at one of the following locations and then returning to Bolton town centre for the marathon.

BELMONT

You can see your athlete in the Lancashire village of Belmont at the 19 and 66 mile points as the route comes down Rivington Rd and turns left to cycle gradually uphill through the village.

There is parking available on the A675 Belmont road on the south bound side only. Head for post code BL7 8AB.

The road is closed north bound from Belmont but you can get to the area if you follow the A666 from Bolton.

If you are going to Pennington Flash first then be sure to follow the A580 to get to the A666.

Afterwards for the run course just head back down the A675 and A666 Blackburn Road southwards to get back into Bolton for the town centre car parks.

ADLINGTON

You can see your athlete three times at Adlington before they head to T2 and it’s a good place to get something to eat or cheer the athletes up Babylon Lane.

Leave Pennington Flash after 9:30am and follow the A579 Atherleigh Way through Atherton and then joining the M61 at J5.

Travel up the M61 and join the A6 from junction 6. Head north on the A6 and park South West of Adlington High Street.

Staying south of the bike course is best and will help you get to the run course later via the same route back to the M61.

HILLDALE HOTSPOT

There will be support at the 47and 94 miles point in Hilldale as the route turns left from Bentley Lane on to Bannister Lane at the foot of ‘Hunters Hill’.

Reach the area from the south so you avoid the bike course road closures.

From Pennington Flash you join the M6 at junction 23 and travel north to junction 27.

From there take the A5209 Hall Lane to the B5246 Lancaster Lane to the Chorley Rd in Hilldale. Athletes start coming through this point around 8.30am.

STANDISH HOTSPOT

The athletes turn left from Pepper Lane on to the Preston Road A49 at this point.

The distance of the bike course here is at mile 54 and 101.

To get to this location approach from the South.

From Pennington Flash use the same route as Hilldale utilising the M6.

Exit at junction 27 of the M6 take the A5209 East and turn left onto the A49. You can park on one side of the road here on the Preston Rd before you reach the bike course at Pepper Lane.

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RIVINGTON

To avoid the bike course follow Chorley Old Road, which we recommend using from the A58 North from junction 5 of the M61.

Join the B6226 Chorley Old Road which becomes Lee Lane and turn into Hope St. Turn left onto Fearnhead Ave which then turns right onto Rivington Lane.

At the top of Rivington Lane there are two locations for parking at Great House Barn and Rivington Hall Barn where you can get refreshed at the tea rooms. Rivington Green and Sheephouse Lane is a short walk from the barns and our triathletes will pass the green twice at mile 16 and 63.

TRANSITION

Transition 2 is based at the Macron Stadium this year offering lots of car parking.

This is where the athletes change from the bike to the run section and is also where the expo and merchandise tent are located.

The best way to get to the stadium is via junction 6 of the M61.

Even if you are travelling from the north of Bolton use the A58 Beaumont Rd to join the M61 from junction 5 to get to junction 6 or you will come up against the road closures.

To get to the town centre from T2 rejoin the M61 at junction 6 and drop down to junction 5 again back to the A58 but this time head into Bolton using the Wigan Rd and Deane Rd to get into the town centre.

The first pro athlete is expected into T2 any time from 11.15am and they will be almost

6 hours into their journey. The final cut off for the bike course is 4.30pm at T2.

RUN

The course starts with a 6 mile point to point run.

This starts from T2 at Macron Stadium, athletes use Aspinall Way to rejoin the Chorley New Rd reaching the Middlebrook Trail via Regent Road. The course follows the canal path for a short while before re-joining the Chorley New Road via Overdale Drive.

From here athletes head into the town centre passing along Bark Street and Knowsley Street and turning for their laps on Le Mans Crescent which is just before the finish line, directly behind the Town Hall and Victoria Square.

From this town centre turn athletes will do 3 out and back laps which takes them out to a turn on the Chorley New Road just before the A58 junction with the Beaumont and Victoria Roads.

The run is best viewed in the town centre of Bolton as here you will see athletes three times before they return for a fourth time into the finish funnel in Le Mans Crescent.

From here you can also walk to Chorley New Road where the athletes complete their out and back laps amongst a now famous throng of cheering supporters and Boltonians.

PARKING

The usual free weekend parking will be available on the day at both the NCP Octagon multi-storey car park and the NCP multi-storey car park in Topp Way.