Vinfast Ironman World Championship: Everything you need to know about race day

Are you ready for the VinFast Ironman World Championship on Saturday? Will you be spectating or avoiding the race altogether?

Here’s everything you need to know about race day. Those not watching the race live can keep up with the athletes on Ironman’s YouTube channel as well as Facebook page.

The triathlon starts at 6:25 a.m. HST where athletes will start the grueling 140.6-mile race with the 2.4-mile out-and-back swim in Kailua Bay.

The bike 112-mile bike course starts at Kailua Pier and takes athletes onto Ka‘ahumanu Highway as they ride through lava fields and potentially strong crosswinds as they head to Hawī, where they will turn around and head back to Kona. The course gains elevation of up to 5,814 feet.

The triathlon culminates in a 26.2-mile run through Kona, up Palani Road and onto Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway where they will run through HOST Park at the National Energy Laboratory Hawai`i Authority. Athletes will take a victory lap down Ali‘i Drive where athletes will cross the finish line where they started at Kailua Pier.

Spectators can view the race from the pier where bleachers are set up. Those watching the race often line the streets along the course on Ali‘i Drive, Palani Road and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway.

Ka‘ahumanu Place and Kailua Pier will be closed starting Thursday at 6 a.m. till Sunday at 3 p.m. Also, Ali‘i Drive from Ka‘ahumanu Place to Likana Lane will be closed starting Thursday at 7 a.m. till Sunday at 3 p.m.

Road closures

• Southbound lanes on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway between Palani Road and Kaiminani Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday. Northbound lanes will be open.

• Limited lanes will be open on Makala Boulevard between Queen Ka‘ahumanu and Kuakini Highways from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be no access to Kuakini Highway.

• Kuakini Highway between Makala Boulevard and Palani Road will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Westbound lanes on Palani Road between Queen Ka‘ahumanu and Kuakini Highways will be closed from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday. Eastbound lanes will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Palani Road between Kuakini Highway and Ali‘i Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Ali‘i Drive between Likana Lane and Hualalai Road will be closed 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Hualalai Road between Ali‘i Drive and Kuakini Highway will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Ali‘i Drive between Hualalai Road and La‘aloa Avenue will be closed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Kuakini Highway between Hualalai Road and Kahakai Estates will be closed with limited access from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Southbound lanes on Kuakini Highway between Palani and Hualalai Roads will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Northbound lanes will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon northbound lane closed from Hualalai Road to Henry Street. There will be no access to Palani Road. All traffic will be routed up Ololi Road.

• No through access on Loloku Street between Luhia Street and Kuakini Highway from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.