Nearly 6,000 athletes from 43 countries are arriving in Pembrokeshire this weekend for a massive, world-class weekend of sport.

They will be swimming, cycling and running their way through the 2XU Long Course Weekend, centered on Tenby and taking in the challenging terrain and the stunning sights of the south county coast and countryside.

In just six years, the unique Long Course Weekend has become an established and respected event, attracting some of the best triathlon talent in the UK and the world, including a number who will be tackling Ironman Wales in September.

“It looks set to be another brilliant weekend,” said Matthew Evans of Pembrokeshire-based Activity Wales Events, which is staging the challenge. “Every year the event gains more athletes, supporters and coverage, and it is now televised to over 560 million homes worldwide.”

The weekend features Friday’s 2XU Wales Swim at 7pm, Saturday’s Pedal Cover Wales Sportive from 7am and Sunday’s Oakwood Wales Marathon from 10am Contestants can pick and choose their races and distances, with the elite signing up for all three longer-distance races in a bid to claim the coveted Long Course medal.

There are also hundreds of youngsters taking part in the Folly Farm Taff Kids event on Friday at 5pm as a curtain-raiser to the swim on Tenby’s North Beach.

For the first time, the weekend will feature the first ever Coastal Cottages Wales 10k, starting from Manorbier Castle Communities along the run and bike routes also have the chance to be winners, with £1,000 on each day being offered to the top-supporting areas. One of the top contenders is sure to be Saundersfoot, where the steep St Bride’s Hill will be host to the Ceepo hill climb challenge.

Nine African professional runners will be hoping to break the course record in the marathon.

Four times Ironman champion Lucy Gossage and defending Long Course champion Oliver Simon from Tenby are also competing and will also be hosting seminars in the De Valence Café, Tenby tomorrow (Thursday), when registration opens.

For more information, times and routes, visit www.longcourseweekend.com