IT IS set to be a bumper weekend of sport across the city this weekend – and what a few days it could turn out to be!

If you think you’re feeling a bit out of shape after lockdown, spare a thought for the thousands of runners who will be taking part in the ABP Southampton Marathon today.

After last year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, crowds will be heading for the city to take part in the long-awaited return of the popular event.

Runners will be taking part in either 10k, half marathon or marathon distances.

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As well as that, hundreds of cyclists will also be heading for Southampton, to take part in the city’s first Sporterium, with a host of events in the day, including a short city sprinting route, and a longer 100km challenge.

However, in order to make sure both events run smoothly, organisers say that this will require some changes in the city to create the courses – and yes, this will mean road closures.

So, without further ado, here is all you need to know about the events this weekend:

Daily Echo:

What are the events, and when are they taking place?

Well, first up on Saturday we have the inaugural Southampton Sporterium.

Organisers say this brand new event will be bringing a festival of cycling to the city.

It will combine a British Cycling-endorsed race and a challenge sportive involving hundreds of riders.

There will be a 60km and a 100km event around Hampshire both starting and finishing in the city centre – the longer of the two pushing riders all the way to Sutton Scotney, north of Winchester.

Along with those, a criterium on a closed road 1.7km route on Southampton streets.

Then, on Sunday, it is the turn of the runners, as the ABP Southampton Marathon comes to town.

The annual event was cancelled last year due to the Covid pandemic, but returns with a lot of fanfare and buzz.

Thousands of people are expected to compete in this sixth instalment of the event, as well as cheer from the sides, as the event returns for the first time since the 2019.

Daily Echo: Southampton Criterium is due to take place for the first time on September 4.

When are the marathon races taking place?

The organisers have confirmed that the races on Sunday will kick off in the following order:

  • Full marathon: 9am
  • Half marathon: 9am
  • 10K race: 10am

…And the cycling times?

This is a bit more complicated, as the Saturday event has a number of different events taking place.

For the longer sportive events, they begin as follows:

  • 100km Challenge: Start times between 8 – 8.45am
  • 60km Challenge: Start times between 9 – 9.45am

For the shorter city-centre Criterium, the event is broken up into 10 different waves – depending on ability.

They are:

  • Youth E (under 8s) and E (under 10s) – 11.30am
  • Youth C (under 12s) – 11.50am
  • Youth B (under 14s) – 12.25pm
  • Youth A (under 16s) – 1.10pm
  • First Timers’ race (non-competitive) – 2pm
  • 4th Cat only (Men and Women) – 2.50pm
  • 3rd Cat only (Men) – 3.40pm
  • Women’s National B – 4.35pm
  • Men’s National B – 5.35pm

Daily Echo:

How many people are expected?

To put it simply: A lot!

So, across the weekend there will be around 7,000 runners taking part in the marathon, then a further 1,000 cyclists who will be racing in the Sporterium.

The event is also expected to draw in more than 20,000 spectators across the area over the two days.

And that’s not all. More than 800 volunteer marshals will be in attendance, helping out from 30 different community groups including sports groups, scouts, cheerleaders and universities.

Daily Echo: Thousands of cyclists are set to take part in a new cycling event - the Southampton Sporterium - on September 4. Picture: Antony Burdett-Clark.

Will there be road closures?

Yes, there will be.

For the Sporterium on Saturday, only a few city centre roads around Southampton’s East Park, Palmerston Park, and Houndwell Park, will be closed for the Criterium route.

These will be:

  • A3024
  • Above Bar Street
  • Commercial Road (From September 3, 6pm)
  • East Park Terrace
  • New Road (September 4, 4am – 11pm)
  • Palmerston Road (buses only)
  • Pound Tree Road

Unless stated, these will be closed from 10pm on September 3 to 8pm on September 5.

However, for the longer 100km and 60km events, roads will not be closed, only signposted and marshalled.

On Sunday, this is when the most closures are in place.

Daily Echo:

For the ABP Southampton Marathon, roads will be closed between 8am and 4pm.

They are:

  • Above Bar Street (Saturday 7am – Sunday 8pm)
  • Archers Road (9am – 3.30pm closed at access to The Avenue)
  • Banister Road (9am – 3.30pm to junction with Hulse Road only)
  • Bitterne Road West (8am – 2.30pm eastbound closure only)
  • Briton Street (8am – 1pm)
  • Central Bridge (8am – 2pm)
  • Commercial Road (Saturday 7am – Sunday 8pm at junction with Above Bar Street)
  • Cumberland Place (7am – 4pm from London Road to Charlotte Place Roundabout)
  • East Park Terrace (9am – 12pm)
  • French Street (9am – 9.30am)
  • Hannover Buildings (8am – 1pm)
  • Heatherdeane Road (8.30am – 3pm)
  • High Street (8am – 1pm)
  • Highfield Lane (8am – 3pm westbound closure only)
  • Hulse Road (9am – 3.30pm)
  • Itchen Bridge (8am – 2pm. Fully closed)
  • John Thornycroft Road (8am – 2pm)
  • Jurds Lake Way (8am – 2pm)
  • Keswick Road (8am – 2pm)
  • London Road (7am – 4pm from Carlton Crescent to Cumberland Place. 9am – 4pm from The Avenue to Carlton Crescent)
  • London Road (9am – 4pm)
  • Manor Farm Road (8am – 3pm)
  • Marine Parade (8am – 2pm northbound closure only)
  • New Road (7am – 4pm)
  • Northam Bridge (8am – 2.30pm eastbound closure only)
  • Northlands Road (9am – 3.30pm to junction with Hulse Road only)
  • Oswald Road (8am – 2pm)
  • Platform Road (9am – 9.30am)
  • Portsmouth Road (8am – 2pm)
  • Pound Tree Lane (8am – 1pm)
  • Rothschild Close (8am – 2pm)
  • St Denys Road (8am – 3pm)
  • St Mary’s Street (9am – 11.30am)
  • Terminal Terrace (8am – 1pm)
  • The Avenue (9am – 4pm closed from Banister Road to London Road only)
  • Thomas Lewis Way (8am-3pm partly closed near St Denys train station)
  • Town Quay (9am – 9.30am eastbound closure only)
  • Victoria Road (8am – 2pm)
  • Vosper Road (8am – 2pm)
  • Weston Lane (8am – 2pm from Weston Parade to Rothschild Close)
  • Weston Shore (8am – 2pm)

Daily Echo:

Although there are extensive closures in the city centre, movement around the city is still possible via the A33 coming into Westquay as well as Kingsway and the Avenue all being cleared and open throughout the race day.