IronMan 70.3 Bolton 2025 – the best pictures from the day
A record number of athletes took part in the annual Ironman 70.3 in Bolton today (Sunday, June 08), with crowds lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the competitors.
Here are some of the best pictures taken throughout the course of the day.
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The triathlon saw thousands of athletes competing for the ultimate glory, to be named an ironman or ironwoman and, if lucky, to beat the competition.
They first dived into the frigid waters of Pennington Flash in Leigh for a 1.2 mile swim, before cycling 56 miles through Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Horwich and Bolton and ending in a half marathon around the town centre, Queens Park and Chorley New Road.
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The full gamut of human emotion was on show throughout the day, from the sheer elation of winning to the devastation of having to drop out, from the nerves before the start to the determination once they were in the zone.
One ropey, but heartwarming, moment came when the back wheel of an athlete's bike came away from the frame as he was getting ready to set off following the swim.

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