One of the sport’s most exciting short-course formats arrives in Chicago this weekend as Supertri takes center stage with its signature fast-paced Enduro racing. Racing alongside the long-established Chicago Triathlon, the weekend will feature six events that together showcase a true celebration of sport.
The professional races will see athletes take on the Enduro: three back-to-back swims, bikes, and runs that allow no time for recovery and demand both speed and tactical precision. With short chutes up for grabs and elimination rules in play, every second counts in a format where sharp decisions and flawless execution are essential.
Canadian triathletes are set to feature prominently. Tyler Mislawchuk and Emy Legault will line up for Crown Racing, Mathis Beaulieu will race with Stars and Stripes, and Desirae Ridenour will represent Podium Racing. Each will be aiming to make their mark against a world-class field.
Triathlon Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with two figures who embody the sport’s highest standards – four-time World Champion and now Brownlee Racing coach Tim Don, and Olympic medalist and last year’s Supertri overall series winner Georgia Taylor-Brown – to hear their insights ahead of the race.
Don knows the intricacies of the Chicago course and highlighted the importance of teamwork in the opening swim. “Chicago is really a swim dominant race because the transition is so short. It would be great if Marcus could get the short chute for us, but we are more mindful of wanting him to take the younger athletes along with him.” He emphasized that depth at the front is most valuable, since once an athlete is isolated behind the lead pack the race can be effectively over for them.
Beyond race tactics, Don reflected on his broader role in the sport. “I have been in the sport since the 90s, and I see myself as a bit of a custodian,” he said. “I’ve been there done that in the Olympic distance, then moved up to Ironman, so it feels full circle.” He spoke with clear pride about mentoring the next generation, and helping them navigate the finer details of Supertri racing from unconventional transitions to tactical execution.
For Taylor-Brown, Chicago represents another chance to race at the venue where she began her 2024 “winning streak,” as she calls it – and she also loves the format. “I do really like the Enduro. I think it suits me a bit more because I need a bit of time getting into it. The first race is ‘do what you can’ and then I feel warmed up and can get going a little more. I would say this is my favourite format.”
Taylor-Brown has embraced a year of variety, taking on cross country and gravel races in addition to WTCS, T100, and Supertri. While she describes the season’s intent as lighter and less results-driven – a bit of a post-Olympic reset – she has already lined up nine times in 2025 and continues to compete at the highest level. “I can go into races [this year] and I don’t expect to perform [at a certain level]. I just want to race because I love to race. It’s nice to be able to do that and have fun with it and be more relaxed,” she said. Yet even with that relaxed approach, she is already looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028 with ambitions of adding to her Olympic success.
With Canadian athletes eager to test themselves against the sport’s best, Tim Don shaping the strategy of Brownlee Racing, and Georgia Taylor-Brown embracing the Enduro with her trademark flair, Supertri Chicago is set to deliver another unforgettable show of the sport at its most intense.
The Supertri Chicago broadcast begins Friday, August 22 at 14:00 CST, with the men’s race starting at 14:08 and the women’s race at 15:23. Fans can tune in live on HBO Max, Supertri, TriathlonLive, or DAZN.
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