The Iron Athletes are back in town.

You only see so many ultra-fit people together once a year – around the Ironman Frankfurt.

You can watch them these days at Mainkai and Römerberg, where they register for their big race.

The long-distance triathletes can be recognized by the mostly healthy complexions that result from training camps and endless hours of preparation on the bike and in running shoes.

They often have a small entourage around them and carry a futuristic-looking bicycle racing machine with them.

Just in time for the 20th anniversary, the major sporting event on Sunday can take place again without corona restrictions.

3000 athletes from 81 nations will start.

The "longest day of the year", as it is often called, begins with the starting gun at 6.25 a.m. at the Langener Waldsee.

The participants have to swim 3.8 kilometers there.

The bike course leads over 182 kilometers, first through Frankfurt and then via Friedberger Landstraße to Wetterau and the Main-Kinzig district.

While the triathletes tend to be on the outskirts of the cities in many competitions, they particularly appreciate the running course in Frankfurt.

The final marathon is held in four laps on the banks of the Main.

Similar to the other major Frankfurt one-day sports events, marathons and cycle races, traffic will be severely impacted on the day of the race.

Beginning in the night on Sunday, at the Mainkai due to dismantling work, until Monday.

The organizer offers an overview online.

An information telephone for citizens has been set up on 0 69/2 12-34 00 00.

The police advise driving around Frankfurt city center or switching to public transport.

Because the S-Bahn and U-Bahn run unhindered.

Various tram and bus lines, on the other hand, have to be diverted, interrupted or discontinued.

Information on this is available on the RMV website or on the RMV info line on 0 69/24 24 80 24.

With expected summer temperatures, the winner of the men's race is expected shortly after 2 p.m. on the Römerberg, the winner of the women's competition - Darmstadt's Daniela Bleymehl is considered the favorite - shortly after 3 p.m.

HR television broadcasts live from the swim start until 3:45 p.m.

While it is loud and crowded on the Römerberg when the pros cross the finish line, it gets more and more emotional when the amateur athletes arrive, the later it gets.

Many fulfill a lifelong dream by completing the Frankfurt Ironman - and the overflowing joy is released when the athletes then fall into the arms of their relatives.

It is particularly atmospheric between 9 p.m. and the finish line at 10 p.m., when the last ones at the finish line are celebrated in a special way.

"In 20 years we have brought 60,000 athletes to the start in Frankfurt and employed a total of 80,000 employees and volunteers.

That shows what a complex event such as this is," says Oliver Schiek, head of Ironman Germany.

The best places to see the athletes up close are for early risers at the Langener Waldsee.

On the banks of the Main, the iron men and women walk past the spectators so you can touch them.

Cyclists can rush by on the Old Bridge between 7.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

There is also loud cheering on the climbs in Bergen-Enkheim and Maintal-Hochstadt.