It's Ironman time in Augusta

More than 3,600 athletes are expected to participate Sunday in the 11th Ironman 70.3 in Augusta, including downtown along the Savannah River and into south Augusta.

The first wave of competitors will enter the Savannah River at 7:30 a.m. The first group of cyclists will start the route around 8 a.m., the run will begin around 9 a.m., and the first competitor typically crosses the finish line just after 11 a.m.

The Ironman 70.3 features a 1.2-mile swim in the river from the Augusta Riverwalk Marina to the Boat House Community Center. Athletes will transition to a 56-mile cycling course that will wind through south Augusta before returning to the boathouse.

A final 13.1-mile run through downtown Augusta will take the athletes to the finish line on Broad Street at the Augusta Common.

The bike route has some minor changes in the first and last few miles. In the new course, athletes will take East Boundary to Greene Street, then Fifth Street. This allows bikers to avoid the train tracks they used to cross on Laney-Walker Boulevard in previous years, according to the Augusta Sports Council.

The riders will travel south by using roads such as Gordon Highway, Peach Orchard Road and Mike Padgett Highway. The farthest point south is McCombs Road before they loop north to Hephzibah-McBean Road and eventually return to Gordon Highway and the transition area at the boathouse.

There are many great viewing spots for spectators, including along Broad Street for the run through downtown. Friends and family members often hold signs and cheer from the sidewalks, the transition area or along the bike route.

Timothy O'Donnell won the men's professional division last year with a time of 3:42:07. Mirinda Carfrae won the women's pro division at 4:05:36.