Thousands to take on Staffordshire Ironman next weekend

More than 2,500 athletes will take on a 1.2-mile swim in Chasewater reservoir, a 56-mile bike course through the countryside outside Lichfield, Burton-upon-Trent, and across Cannock Chase area of outstanding natural beauty before finishing with a 13.1-mile run at Riverway, in and around the Stafford Town Centre before finishing in Market Square.

And this year for the first time Stafford Castle will become part of the 70.3-mile course.

The changes will see the course moving from four loops to two, spreading out the 13.1-mile distance between Riverway and Stafford Castle via Stafford town centre.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire will take place on June 9.

Now in its fifth year, the new run course becomes the first major alteration of the current version of the event since moving from Shugborough Estate to Stafford town centre in 2018.

Roads across Staffordshire will be affected by different closures over the weekend.

In the Newborough area the bike course will close the A515 south of Draycott in the Clay from 7am to 12noon, and the B5017 (Stubby Lane) will be closed from 7.30am to 12noon.

Chasewater Country Park and Pool Lane will be closed on June 9 between 8am and 6pm and June 10 from 4am to 10am, but pedestrians will be able to access the park,

The bike course will pass north east of Brownhills and Lichfield from Chasewater to join the A515 where road closures will be in place from 7am to 11am.

Road closures will be in place from 8am to 2pm towards Chasewater and on part of the A5190 (between Burntwood and Heath Hayes junction) from 7am to 11am and closures will be in place north towards Cannock Chase including Birches Valley Road and Penkridge Bank Road between 8am and 2pm.

The course continues to the west of Burntwood along the A5195, right onto Stables Way, right onto Stevens Road, left on Hayfield Hill, right onto Redmoor Road and onto School Lane, and these roads will be closed between 7am and 11am. The A5190 (between the Stables Way junction and Heath Hayes roundabout) will also be closed.

Riders will head east along Thorleys Hill before turning right onto Stoneywell Lane, and they will both be closed from 7am to 11am.

Over the same time Smithy Lane, Lysways lane, Lichfield Road and the A515 will be closed.

Then between 7am and 12noon the A515 from the B5014 junction to Draycott in the Clay will close.

The B5013 from the Quee Lane junction to Rugeley will be closed between 7am and 1pm and the B5243 Duffield Lane will be closed between the A515 junction and the Holly Bush Road junction between 7am and 12noon.

Then the A51 will be closed from the A51/B5013 roundabout to Wolseley Bridge between 8am and 2pm.

Other roads affected by closures during the same time are Bower Lane, Stafford Brook Road, Penkridge Bank, Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath, Broadhurst Green and Penkridge Bank Road.

The course continues along the A513 before taking a right onto Holdiford Road, and on Tixall Road westbound which will all be closed from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

Riverway is closed from 8am to 6pm on June 8 and 7am to 8pm on June 9.

And Hatherton Street and Fairway will be closed from 8.30am to 2.30pm, while South Walls will be open all day for access to car parks and police station only.

The run course takes athletes from Riverway into Stafford town centre. Greengate Walk, Tipping Street, Eastgate Street, North Walls, South Walls, Salter Street, Mill Bank, Tenterbanks, South Street, Castle Street, Martin Drive, St Chads Place, Martin Street, Greengate Street, North Castle Street, Castle View and Castle Bank will all be closed from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire is the only race in the UK to offer qualification to the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France and in addition is one of only four races in Europe and 20 globally, selected as a “Women For Tri” qualifying race, offering 25 additional World Championship qualification slots exclusively for female athletes.

For more information visit http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/staffordshire.aspx#axzz5p8VTUBvV