Thousands of athletes will shut down two Toronto highways this weekend

Two of Toronto's busiest highways will be shut down this weekend as a popular triathlon returns to the city.

The 12th annual Supertri Toronto is back on Sunday, July 26, bringing more than 1,750 athletes to downtown Toronto for a day of swimming, cycling and running, giving participants a chance to hit the pavement on highways that are normally packed with vehicles.

This means significant portions of the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) will be closed to accommodate the athletes participating in the event formerly known as the Toronto Triathlon Festival.

There are two different race distances participants can enter.

The Sprint features a 750-metre swim in Lake Ontario near Ontario Place, a 20-kilometre bike ride on the Gardiner and the DVP, and a five-kilometre run along Lake Shore Boulevard. 

Meanwhile, the Olympic distance includes a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike ride and 10-kilometre run, which, according to organizers, supports SickKids Foundation's mental health programs.

If you're driving around Toronto this weekend, expect closures from 2 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

The eastbound Gardiner Expressway will be closed from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, while the northbound DVP will be closed from the Gardiner to Eglinton Avenue East, including all ramps.

Aside from the annual Mattamy Homes Bike for Brain Health, which already took place in May, the Supertri Toronto is the only other opportunity that lets cyclists ride down the highway without a single car in sight. 

It's not too late to register online if you're interested in breaking a slightly spontaneous sweat this Sunday.