The Chicago leg of the Supertri season kicks off with a big-name field and a bold new format, following a dazzling Toronto opener that saw Olympic champions and rising stars making headlines. The spotlight in Chicago now shifts to a weekend of back-to-back triathlons, all part of the Enduro-style run that defines this year’s Supertri schedule.
Form and context
– The lineup arrives without some of the sport’s biggest names, including Alex Yee, Hayden Wilde, Matt Hauser, Leo Bergere and Vasco Vilaca, creating a fresh opportunity for new faces to shine on the world stage. Still, a number of seasoned veterans and emerging talents are ready to stake a claim, making this one of the most open men’s fields in recent memory.
– London Marathon champion Alex Yee’s recent form is cited as evidence that speed remains elite among Supertri competitors, even as this event tests athletes in a tougher, more cumulative format.
– In the women’s race, the absence of Cassandre Beaugrand opens the door for a number of challengers. Georgia Taylor-Brown, who rode to a Crown Racing one-two last year, is back and among the favorites. Jolien Vermeylen will not line up in Chicago after her heroics in Toronto, but Jeanne Lehair—a two-time winner in this format (London 2023 and Boston last year)—is set to race and will aim to repeat her strong Toronto showing, where she was among the top contenders.
Who’s racing in Chicago
Pro men
– Teams and lineups reflect a clear push to spotlight emerging American talent and other up-and-coming riders. Notable names include Jonny Brownlee, Tyler Mislawchuk, Ricardo Batista, and Morgan Pearson, among others, with a mix of veteran experience and young potential across the four squads.
– Team line-ups feature four athletes per squad:
– Brownlee Racing: Jonathan Brownlee and three teammates
– Crown Racing: Tyler Mislawchuk, Ricardo Batista, and two teammates
– Podium Racing: Jeanne Lehair’s team also features several other riders
– Stars & Stripes Racing: four riders including rising American talents
– This race also marks Morgan Pearson’s first of three events in eight days, a bridge between this weekend and the upcoming WTCS events.
Pro women
– Georgia Taylor-Brown returns to the Chicago start lineup looking to build on last year’s performance in a field that already teems with talent. With Jolien Vermeylen sidelined, Lehair’s presence adds depth and a proven track record in this format.
– The women’s teams mirror the men’s structure, with four squads fielding four riders each:
– Brownlee Racing, Crown Racing, Podium Racing, and Stars & Stripes Racing each contribute a mix of established contenders and younger athletes.
– Key athletes include Jeanne Lehair, who has won two Supertri titles in this format, and Taylor Spivey, who remains a consistent threat across Super League and Supertri events. Fanni Szalai, the young Hungarian star, adds further punch to the field.
Format, course and rules
– Chicago returns to the Enduro format, featuring three back-to-back triathlons (swim-bike-run) across the weekend, with no breaks between stages. The course uses a downtown lakefront loop for cycling and running.
– The race operates with a hard elimination rule: any athlete more than 90 seconds behind the race leader at any point will be eliminated.
– Stage specifics: each stage consists of a 300-meter swim (one lap), a 4-kilometer bike (four laps), and a 1.6-kilometer run (two laps).
– A unique feature of Supertri is the Short Chute, a team-distributed advantage awarded for early-lap prowess and executed during the run leg of Stage 3. The Short Chutes are earned by teams, then assigned to a selected athlete to be used during the first lap of the run in Stage 3.
– Teams compete not only for individual glory but for the four-team championship and a substantial prize purse, with more than $1 million up for grabs in the 2025 season, majority of which rewards team competition.
Schedule and viewing
– The weekend’s racing is set for Saturday, August 23, 2025. The men’s race starts at 14:08 local time (20:08 UK, 21:08 CET) and the women’s race follows at 15:23 local time (21:23 UK, 22:23 CET). Fans can sign up to watch Chicago live through the Supertri site, with regional broadcaster details available on the same page.
Why this Chicago edition matters
– With prestige teams and a mix of veterans and newcomers, Chicago promises a compelling test of endurance, strategy and speed under the Enduro format. The absence of several top stars shifts the balance toward fresh faces and tactical play, while the presence of proven performers like Lehair and Taylor-Brown ensures high-caliber competition.
– The team aspect adds another layer of drama, as coaches and managers steer four-athlete lineups, balance the under-23 development requirement, and jockey for early season momentum ahead of other major races.
Summary and outlook
– Chicago’s race will set the tone for a pivotal stretch of the season, blending a classic city-course atmosphere with a modern, high-stakes competition structure. Expect dramatic early splits, strategic Short Chutes, and a showcase of new triathlon talents alongside established names. The weekend aims to deliver exciting racing, strong stories, and a glimpse at the future stars of Supertri.
Additional comments
– Keep an eye on how teams deploy their four-athlete rosters across the three stages, and watch for how athletes adapt to the elimination rule as fatigue builds through back-to-back racing.
– The event also serves as a platform for younger athletes to break through, given the under-23 requirement and the sizeable prize fund, which should boost competition depth and invest in the sport’s next generation.