Ironman contestants take to roads, river today

THE SPECTATORS

WHEN: The event starts at 6:57 a.m. with the national anthem at the Fifth Street Marina; the first wave of athletes goes off at 7:30.

WHERE THEY RACE: The triathlon begins on the Savannah River with a 1.2-mile swim. Athletes will finish at the Boathouse then begin a 56-mile bike ride into Aiken County before returning to Augusta for a 13.1-mile run that ends at Augusta Common.

WHERE TO WATCH: See the start from the Fifth Street Bridge; the Boathouse is off-limits to the public. The last group goes off at 9 a.m.

Watch athletes cross the finish line at Augusta Common. The first wave of male runners (the pro athletes) are expected to finish about 11:15, while the pro women should finish about 40 minutes later.

The course closes at 5:06 p.m.

ROADS: Aiken County roads are expected to be clear by 2 p.m. Major intersections will be monitored by law enforcement officials. In downtown Augusta, the running portion is expected to last from 10 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. One lane along Broad, Greene and Reynolds streets will be designated for the race.

PARKING: Motorists are encouraged to park on side streets or in center-street parking on Broad Street. Parking also will be available at the Augusta Municipal Building.

RIVER CLOSING: The Savannah River will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon from the Jessye Norman Amphitheater to just past the Boathouse.

THE ATHLETES

THE FIELD: A field of 3,307 athletes (2,366 men, 941 women) from 15 countries and 44 states are entered. Thirty-seven percent are from Georgia.

TOP MALE CONTENDERS

- Greg Bennett (bib No. 1). Top-ranked triathlete from 2002-2004

- Paul Ambrose (No. 6). Three top-3 finishes in 2009

- Viktor Yzemtsev (No. 22). 2009 Ironman Louisville Triathlon winner

TOP FEMALE CONTENDERS

- Laura Bennett (No. 31). 2008 U.S. Olympic Triathlon team member

- Pip Taylor (No. 32). Three 2009 wins, including July's Vineman Ironman 70.3

- Sara Gross (No. 46). 2005 ETU Long Distance Triathlon European champion

- Desiree Ficker (No. 47). 2008 Ironman South Africa winner

THREE MORE TO WATCH

- Dan Benintendi (No. 352), of Fort Worth, Texas, has completed two marathons this year and has lost 201 pounds.

- Mike Stashak (No. 693), of Atlanta, has been cancer-free for a year. This is his first triathlon.

- Leslie Zacks (No. 2622), of Atlanta, is competing to raise funds for CURE Childhood Cancer.