Route announced for 2018 Ironman 70.3
The new route for next year's Ironman 70.3 has been confirmed.
While it was already known the finish line would shift from Shugborough Estate to Stafford town centre for the 2018 event now further details have been announced about the gruelling 70.3mile course.
Essentially there will be an all-new run course, a modified bike route while the swim leg will remain at Chasewater Country Park.
The 56-mile bike segment will still be a one-lap course but it will see the removal of the loop section at Six Roads End and Hanbury, near Burton upon Trent.
Cannock Chase will feature once more but the second transition area will be located at Riverway, Stafford, taking athletes through Haywood and Tixall on the approach.
Once at Riverway the competitors will dismount and take on the brand new 13.1-mile run which takes people along the River Sow and then on an intense three-lap course in Stafford town centre including Victoria Park before finishing at Market Square.
Dan James, Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire race director, said: "Being able to bring the event into the town centre is a big positive and will certainly add a new dimension to the event both from an athlete and spectator perspective.
"The new run course will take athletes past some of the best features of the town, giving them ample opportunity to run past supporters on the route.
"The new run route and race venue will ease athlete logistics as well as enable lots more spectators to get closer to the race than ever before and for residents and local businesses to truly experience the buzz and atmosphere of an IRONMAN 70.3 race."
Ironman launched in 2015 and has since seen nearly 8,000 people take part.
Around 2,500 people are expected to sign up for next year.
