IRONMAN UK Announcement:
We have worked with our council partners and local authorities to devise an alternate route least likely to be impacted by the current wildfires, however, we will stay in constant communication with all stakeholders and at no time will we risk the safety of athletes, volunteers and event staff. As always, please follow instructions of course marshals, race officials and IRONMAN staff throughout the race.
2. Why can’t you make up the 16 miles on the bike course somewhere else?
The alternate route has been devised at short notice due to the wildfires and in close consultation with our council partners, local authorities and other key stakeholders and is the best alternate route that allows the race to go ahead to ensure athlete safety. Importantly, the impact of the course on the residents of the community in the light of the ongoing wildfires must be considered and respected.
3. Will I still be able to qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship if the bike distance is short?
Yes, all IRONMAN World Championship qualifying criteria will remain as usual and slots will be allocated per the normal WTC qualification protocol.
4. Is it safe to swim in Pennington Flash?
Blue-green algae is a natural occurrence influenced by weather patterns and can appear or dissipate overnight. When it appears at elevated levels it makes the water unsafe to swim in. Our swim safety team are consistently monitoring the level of blue-green algae in Pennington Flash so we can be certain of how it is affecting the water quality there. Mitigation efforts are also being implemented by the team to give every possible opportunity for the swim to proceed as planned.
5. What happens if the water quality is not suitable for swimming?
If water quality is deemed unsuitable to swim, the event will proceed as a bike-run. If this becomes the case, further details will be provided at the time the decision is made.
6. When will I know more about swim conditions?
We are pursuing every possible opportunity to enable the swim to continue as scheduled (this includes practice swims). To this end we will make any announcements of changes closer to, or on race day.
7. Won’t the fires cause the area to be smoky?
Air quality levels on the IRONMAN UK Bolton course have been continuously tested by environmental agency and civil contingency teams and show no increase to normal readings.
Despite this, and as a precaution, we advise athletes to take the following into account:
• Any athlete with an underlying chronic lung condition should seek the advice of their medical practitioner before deciding to compete.
• Any Athlete with Asthma must ensure that they have their inhalers with them at all times.
• If any Athlete experiences breathing difficulties or chest pain during the event, seek medical attention at the nearest aid station, from a course official, or at the Medical Tent in Bolton Town Centre.
IRONMAN UK offers 40 qualifying slots for the 2018 edition of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Professionals compete for P-2000 KPR points plus $40,000 prize purse.
MALE PRO:
1 Clarke Will GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
2 Fogarty Brian GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
3 McCrystal Bryan IRL (Ireland)
4 Passuello Domenico ITA (Italy)
5 Smales Elliot GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
6 Cartmell Fraser GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
8 Skipper Joe GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
9 Barclay Reece GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
10 Cochrane Simon NZL (New Zealand)
11 Csoke Balazs HUN (Hungary)
12 Duelsen Marc DEU (Germany)
13 Elosegi Eneko ESP (Spain)
14 Guilloux Arnaud FRA (France)
15 Irvine Henry GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
16 Leeman Matthew GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
18 Niedrig Andreas DEU (Germany)
19 Norberg Sebastian SWE (Sweden)
20 Rahn Fabian DEU (Germany)
21 Strijk Erik-Simon NLD (Netherlands)
22 Van Looy Diego BEL (Belgium)
23 Kochetkov Alexander LTU (Lithuania)
FEMALE PRO:
30 Gossage lucy GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
32 Lindholm Borg Camilla SWE (Sweden)
33 Naeth Angela CAN (Canada)
34 Svensk Sara SWE (Sweden)
35 De Nicola Frederica ITA (Italy)
36 Sanjana Frankie GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
37 Shulz Jenny DEU (Germany)
38 Philipp Laura DEU (Germany)