'Plan ahead' message as city gears up for IRONMAN Leeds triathlon

The inaugural IRONMAN Leeds triathlon is being held this Sunday, July 27, with around 2,500 athletes set to push themselves to the limit as they tackle a 2.4-mile swim in Roundhay Park’s Waterloo Lake followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run.

A wide-ranging programme of temporary road closures will be in place in and around north Leeds to ensure that the event – which is being organised by the IRONMAN Group with support from Leeds City Council – passes off safely and smoothly.

And, with the final countdown to the big day now under way, residents are being encouraged to take a few minutes to acquaint themselves with the closure timings and locations.

Significant traffic disruption is expected, with the epic nature of the event – and the lengthy race times that come with it – meaning restrictions will be in force for much of Sunday.

The IRONMAN team has been working hard to publicise the plans for the day, with a total of 60,000 information leaflets being distributed to local properties.

More than 100 businesses in affected areas have also received direct e-mails with details about the event that they can share with their staff and customers.

Vehicle crossing locations will be dotted along the cycling and running routes, while full emergency service road access will be maintained throughout. Pedestrians will be able to cross the routes at any point, provided it is safe to do so.

People with enquiries regarding road access – including carers who need to carry out home visits – are asked to contact the IRONMAN team via leeds@ironmanroadaccess.com or 03330 116600.

Enquiries about other IRONMAN-related matters should be e-mailed to leeds@ironman.com.

Leeds is one of only two places in the UK hosting a full IRONMAN challenge in 2025, with previous events in locations such as Bolton and Pembrokeshire generating millions of pounds for their local economies.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“IRONMAN Leeds promises to be a fantastic occasion, and one that will further strengthen our city’s reputation as a respected host of high-profile sporting events.

“The exploits of local triathletes such as the Brownlee brothers have given Leeds a real interest in this sport, so hopefully people will be turning out in numbers on Sunday to support the competitors in Roundhay Park and along the rest of the course.

“The road closures that are needed for the safe operation of the event will inevitably cause some disruption and we thank the public in advance for their patience and understanding.

“Please do take the time, if you haven’t already, to familiarise yourself with all the relevant traffic and travel arrangements and how they might affect your plans.”

IRONMAN Leeds will have a staggered start, with the first swimmers venturing into Waterloo Lake from 6am on Sunday.

The event’s second discipline, the bike race, begins and ends in Roundhay Park and will cover three loops of a circular route that runs through or near communities such as Shadwell, Thorner, Bardsey, Wike, Harewood, Eccup, Arthington, Adel and Alwoodley.

Roads that will be affected by the closure programme needed for this part of the day include:

• Carr Lane between Shadwell and Thorner (closed 6am to 3.30pm)
• Bramham Road and part of Thorner Road, both to the east of Thorner (closed 6am to 3.30pm)
• The A61 Harrogate Road between the A659 at Harewood and Wike Lane (closed 7am to 4.30pm)
• The A61 Harrogate Road between Wike Lane and Wigton Approach, near the Grammar School at Leeds (closed 7am to 5.30pm)
• Alwoodley Lane between its junctions with King Lane and the A61 Harrogate Road (closed eastbound 7.30am to 5.30pm)

IRONMAN Leeds’s third and final discipline, the run, will follow a looped course that takes in the western side of Roundhay Park and a host of residential streets in the wider Roundhay area.

Athletes are expected to start crossing the finishing line – which will be located near the park’s cricket pavilion – from around 2pm.

Spectators heading to this area to cheer the runners home can look forward to a party atmosphere as well as food stalls, music and other attractions.

Roads in Roundhay that will be closed for much of Sunday to facilitate both the run and general event access include North Park Grove, Gledhow Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Old Park Road and the stretch of Street Lane between Devonshire Avenue and Princes Avenue. Park Avenue will be closed near the Lakeside Cafe from 6am on Saturday until 5pm on Monday (July 28).

Tropical World will be open as normal throughout the event.

Lewis Peacock, race director for IRONMAN Leeds, said:

“We can’t wait to welcome thousands of athletes to the home of triathlon as the very first IRONMAN Leeds heads to town.

“It’s set to be an incredible day of racing and a great moment to have a full distance IRONMAN race return to England for the first time since 2023.

“The spectator support in Roundhay Park is expected to be massive, so make sure you head down to soak up the atmosphere!”  

Further information about road closures along the cycling and running routes – together with suggested diversions for people wanting to drive to Harewood House on Sunday – can be found here.

ENDS