THOUSANDS of spectators and athletes will descend on Bolton in just two weeks’ time for the return of the gruelling Ironman UK triathlon.

And town hall chiefs hope the competition — which will see 1,400 athletes from 35 countries compete in a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon — will provide a muchneeded boost for the borough’s economy.

Last year’s race injected £4.5 million into the local economy as businesses reaped the reward of thousands of athletes and their supporters arriving in the town.

Ironman UK 2010, being held on Sunday, August 1, takes the athletes on a new route, starting with a 2.4- mile swim at Pennington Flash in Leigh, followed by a 112-mile bike ride in and around Lancashire and finishing with a 26.2-mile marathon on the streets of Bolton.

Cllr Ismail Ibrahim, Bolton Council’s Executive member for development and regeneration, said: “Ironman provided a real boost for local businesses last year and this year’s event should again be fantastic news for the region.

“It also puts Bolton on the map internationally, thanks to a worldwide filming deal.

“The Ironman is a real test of athletic endurance and we hope the people of Bolton will come out once again and get behind this incredible sporting event.”

The swimming event starts at 6am at Pennington Flash before athletes take to the road for a threelap cycle race in Bolton, Rivington, Chorley and the Lancashire countryside.

On the final lap, the cyclists will head back to Rivington and Blackrod High School to swap their bikes for running shoes, with the first athlete expected to start the marathon at around 11.30am. The course will follow a similar spectatorfriendly route to last year’s marathon.

The runners will leave Lever Park Avenue and head to Chorley New Road, near the Crown pub at Horwich. They will continue towards Bolton, past Middlebrook and to the Beehive pub, before heading into Bolton town centre and back along Chorley New Road to do another lap.

For the final lap, athletes will follow a route via Chorley Street, Bark Street and Knowsley Street into Oxford Street, crossing the finishing line in Victoria Square.

The finishing line is sure to be a highlight of the course as athletes end the race below a big screen TV in front of Bolton Town Hall.

Athletes have 17 hours in which to complete the course and the fastest are expected to cross the finish line from 2pm, while others will take the full 17 hours, finishing at 11pm at night.

Last year’s winner, Philip Graves, aged 20, crossed the line in Victoria Square in eight hours, 45 minutes and 52 seconds.

The first Bolton man to cross the line was 44-yearold firefighter Neil Mercer — nine hours, 53 minutes and 52 seconds after starting.

Alison Boon, Ironman race owner, described the event as an amazing sight and experience for both athletes and supporters.

She said: “Ironman is truly an incredible spectacle for athletes and supporters as the athletes battle against the course, themselves, the elements and the fatigue that such an effort entails.

“Those that rise to the challenge are not ordinary but extraordinary. However, the motto of Ironman is ‘anything is possible’ and that is truly the case.”

Ironman is an international event with races in places such as Zurich, Frankfurt and Nice and in countries such as America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Qualifiers from Ironman UK in Bolton will compete in the Ford Ironman World Championship on October 9 in Kona, Hawaii.

There will be a number of road closures in place for the cycle and run stages.

Marshalls will be present to allow access for emergency services, residents, businesses and public transport.

Middlebrook Retail Park is open as usual.