Visit Bolton

IRONMAN UK is back in Bolton for 2021!

Bolton’s famous IRONMAN UK event returns for two days of sporting spectacle on Friday 2 July and Sunday 4 July. And with Bolton’s IRONMAN being one of the toughest of the year, the athletes need all the support that the town’s spectators are famous for.

The leader of Bolton council, Councillor David Greenhalgh, said: “We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with IRONMAN UK and the event has become one of the highlights of the Bolton calendar. After a break last year, athletes of all levels will be raring to go at the start lines of both the Night Run and IRONMAN UK in early July.

“We are also delighted to welcome a second event this year, with the IRONMAN 70.3 joining the ever-popular Ironkids to create what I’m sure will be another spectacular weekend in September.

“These events always bring a special atmosphere to the town centre and I’m sure everyone in Bolton is looking forward to welcoming back IRONMAN not once, but twice, in 2021.”

Declan Byrne, Managing Director of the UK and Ireland for The IRONMAN Group, said: "Bolton is one of the UK’s most iconic triathlon venues, having hosted the Supersapiens IRONMAN UK for over a decade attracting athletes from around the world.

“Along with Bolton Council, we are thrilled to create a second weekend of racing in September where IRONKIDS and IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton will take place.”

Come along, enjoy the action and support the athletes in Bolton and around the course, but please remember to stay COVID-safe.

Night Run

After the inaugural event in 2019, Night Run returns to mark the start of this year’s IRONMAN UK weekend on the evening of Friday 2 July.

The 5K fun run will see hundreds of men and women, aged 16 plus, run around the town centre on closed roads.

The course starts on Le Mans Crescent, heading through the town centre, and into Queens Park. Runners will then come back to town, finishing in Victoria Square on the same finish line as IRONMAN UK athletes.

IRONMAN UK

Bolton welcomes IRONMAN UK for the twelfth time on Sunday 2 July, with over a thousand athletes aged 17 to 70 taking part in the action.

The gruelling triathlon gets underway with a 2.4-mile swim at Pennington Flash, before athletes complete a 112-mile bike ride followed by a full marathon that ends in Bolton’s Victoria Square.

For only the second time athletes will cycle into Bolton town centre. The bike course will see them cycling along Chorley New Road, passing Queens Park, coming into Bolton town centre and on to Le Mans Crescent, before heading to Bury via Folds Road and Tonge Moor Road.

The marathon route will take place in and around Bolton town centre and Queens Park, with the finale on Victoria Square, finishing against the backdrop of Bolton town hall.

COVID-19

While Bolton is famous for the support we give the IRONMAN UK athletes, this year it’s vital that spectators stay COVID-safe.

Everyone who wants to enjoy the spectacle and show their support is being encouraged to take a COVID-19 lateral flow test before heading to the event. This will allow you to confirm that your result is negative and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. If your test is positive, you should stay at home and self-isolate, following the government guidance.

COVID tests are available from Bolton Council.

In addition, when you are at the event, please wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitising units that will be throughout the town centre and Queens Park.

It will be especially important to follow the usual social distancing rules. Remember – hands, face, space, fresh air.

Council staff will be working as COVID officers and will be on hand to remind people of these safety precautions, as well as handing out face coverings and signposting people to the nearest hand sanitising units.

Extensive COVID security for athletes is being led by IRONMAN UK.

Entertainment

Athletes and spectators will be entertained by street performers and music in Bolton town centre for the Night Run on Friday 2 July. The performers will be back on Sunday 4 July for IRONMAN UK, when there will also be a pop-up acoustic music stage with local artists in Queens Park.

The café and toilets in Queens Park will be open as usual.

More inforrmation for spectators can also be found in our useful guide.

Travel and parking

Park for free for 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday at Bolton NCP multi-storey car parks: Topp Way (BL1 2DJ), Octagon (BL1 1TN) and Deane Road (BL3 5DX).

To facilitate all the events, roads will be closed in the town centre and a number of roads will be closed in and around Bolton, Blackburn and Bury, before and during the events.

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

For a full list of all road closures, visit the IRONMAN UK website.

For more information contact IRONMAN UK on 0333 011 6600 or e-mail uk@ironmanroadaccess.com.