PORT ELIZABETH - OVER 1800 ATHLETES TAKE UP IRONMAN CHALLENGE

The world’s best endurance athletes – and thousands of their fans – took over the Port Elizabeth beachfront this morning for the 12th edition of the Standard Bank Ironman African Championship.

The event sees the second-largest field of athletes take to the water and road since it started in 2005.

According to Ironman operations manager Paul Wolff‚ this year is their largest event to date.

“We are expecting more than 1 800 athletes‚ with their families and friends coming along to support them.”

A total of 1 859 athletes were expected at the start‚ 180 of them Port Elizabeth residents and 616 international athletes from 68 different countries.

According to Wolff‚ each athlete brings an average of three to five spectators along‚ meaning that more than 9 000 spectators could potentially come to the Friendly City.

There are new‚ scenic cycling and running routes due to planning and safety concerns related to the previous routes.

“Until recently‚ there was some construction on roads along the cycling route and it was not clear when it would be done‚” Wolff said.

“There was also some concern about bush-dwellers along sections of the route as some late finishers might be on the route after dark.”

Certain roads along the route will be closed from 5am on Sunday to midnight.

These closures will affect Humerail.

VIA - timeslive.co.za