Event Description
CHICAGO TRIATHLON
Where the World Comes to Race™
August 25-26, 2018
For 35 years, triathletes have gathered on the shores of Lake Michigan for one of the largest triathlons in the world. The Transamerica Chicago Triathlon is an action-packed tour through one of America’s signature metropolises.
START SEQUENCE
The bike course will allow Premier participants the ability to start first, providing unobstructed space along previously congested Lake Shore Drive. International race participants will start next, allowing them protection from prolonged exposure to possible heat issues. International distance athletes will no longer ride a second loop on Lake Shore Drive, offering Sprint participants a less congested course of their own.
EARLY BIKE CHECK
Sunday participants have the opportunity to check their bikes into the DuSable Harbor Transition area on Saturday. Title sponsor, Transamerica, is making possible this enormous convenience. Participants may rack their bikes between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Only bikes with athlete numbers affixed may be racked. No bags may be dropped overnight. Around the clock security will be provided. We also offer a complimentary bike check within Salon D at the Chicago Triathlon Multisport & Fitness Expo to accommodate anyone who takes advantage of this option.
TRANSITION AREA
Transition opens Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. Participants must be body marked, wristbanded and have bike frame stickers applied prior to entering this secured area. Reference the maps within the Transition area to locate your specific rack.
NOTE: We will be checking ALL backpacks, duffle bags, drawstring bags, or similar bags as you enter transition. Arrive early. Allow for adequate time to complete the process.
Transition will close promptly at 5:45 a.m. for all Sprint and International Participants. A separate, late check-in option is available to Sprint athletes ONLY from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. using a special East Gate. Please consult this map for details.
ALL BIKES MUST BE CHECKED-IN DURING TRANSITION HOURS. ONCE TRANSITION CLOSES ATHLETES WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO RACK THEIR BIKES.
Once your bike has been checked into the Transition Area, you cannot remove your bike until after the start of the race when you start your bike leg. Bike mechanics will be available to help with tire inflation and mechanical issues. You will need your bib number/wristband to reclaim your bike after the race.
SWIM COURSE
The swim is held in Monroe Harbor, with the start line at Balbo Dr. and Lake Shore Drive. International swimmers first head south, swimming parallel to the sea wall for 380 yards. They then make a 180 degree left turn and continue north, passing the start area and exiting the water just south of the Chicago Yacht Club. Sprint swimmers head directly north, swimming parallel to the sea wall and exit just south of the Chicago Yacht Club.
T1
After exiting the water, participants run north along a carpeted path for approximately 450 yards. Transition is located on the grass reserve south of Randolph Street and east of Lake Shore Dr. Participants enter transition from the south end, then exit (on bike) at the north end adjacent to Randolph Street.
BIKE COURSE
The bike course will offer participants a true tour of Chicago, starting at the scenic lakefront, tunneling underneath the bustling Loop, through the heart of the financial district, then cruising down the city’s most exclusive freeway.
Both Sprint and International distance cyclists will start the course as usual, exiting transition and riding north on Lake Shore Drive. All cyclists will now turn around at Hollywood Blvd (previously Foster Avenue) and proceed south. International participants will exit at the Wacker Drive egress ramp, while Sprint participants exit (as usual) at the Randolph Street egress ramp.
The International bike course leads west along Intermediate Wacker Drive, where the unique experience begins: a ride underneath the city along the newly-rebuilt (and completely traffic-free) Intermediate Wacker Drive. Cyclists will proceed west then south to Monroe Street, turning around underneath Jackson Blvd, then returning north and east along Lower Wacker. Just past Michigan Avenue, the course leads cyclists to another down ramp, setting-up an exclusive experience: cruising down the Lower Randolph Busway – Chicago’s most secretive and unobstructed expressway. The open-air Busway offers a unique vantage point for spectators as triathletes ride through the heart of Grant Park while suspended 15 feet below ground level. Athletes will proceed south through Place to a turnaround point underneath I-55, then return north on the Busway, back to Middle Randolph and into transition.
The International bike course requires two distinct ride/pass zones, relative to specific areas of the course:
1. Ride Left, Pass Right
This rule remains in effect for the first 14.5 miles of the International bike course, along Lake Shore Drive’s median lanes. The rule was created to keep cyclists clear of cars in the outer lanes (which are buffered by safety barrels and cones). Cyclists who wish to pass must look for clearance to their right side, move to the right, complete the pass, then move back to the left (median). Those being passed must remain three bike lengths behind in order to avoid a drafting penalty. The Ride Left, Pass Right rule applies to the entire Sprint bike course field.
2. Ride Right, Pass Left
(International participants only)
After immediately crossing the Chicago River, all International distance athletes will turn left, exiting Lake Shore Drive at the Wacker Drive egress ramp. This down ramp leads cyclists west on Intermediate Wacker Drive. At this point, all cyclists must follow the standard Ride Right, Pass Left protocol for the duration of the race. Cyclists who wish to pass must look for clearance behind them and on the left. Once clear, they will move left, complete the pass, then move back to their right side.
USA Triathlon officials will patrol the bike course, ensuring safety, proper positioning and passing among the field. In addition, 20 Bike Marshals will be on course, reiterating rules, aiding stranded cyclists and ensuring general course safety. Participants are asked to obey all signals and instruction. Penalties, including disqualification, can be assessed for noncompliance.
T2
The Bike In access to Transition is adjacent to Randolph on the right hand side of the bike exit. The flow for this transition is north to south with the run exit being slightly west of the swim entry.
RUN COURSE
The run course begins at the grass reserve just south of Randolph. Competitors run south on the middle (asphalt) sidewalk/path. At Buckingham Fountain they continue on the grass until they rejoin the asphalt path. They continue on this path until they reach the Museum campus where they connect with the lake front path and continue running south. Sprint competitors cross Waldron Dr., where they turn around and head north, keeping left of oncoming runners on the same path. The turnaround for international runners will be approximately a half-mile south of McCormick Place. There they turn around and head north, keeping left of oncoming runners on the same path. Both groups will pass the Shedd Aquarium, continuing west under the Lake Shore Drive underpass and up the sidewalk to Columbus Dr. All runners will then make a right and continue north on Columbus to the finish line just ahead.
AID STATIONS
There will be water and Lemon-Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula available on course at all aid stations and at the start and finish lines. All aid stations on the course will have dozens of enthusiastic volunteers and portable toilets located nearby.
Gatorade Endurance is proud to partner with the Chicago Triathlon, hydrating athletes on race day. Endurance Formula has nearly two times the sodium and three times the potassium of traditional Gatorade. Newly reformed, it now contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners and has a new, lighter flavor. The Gatorade Endurance line of products is an elite line of sports nutrition products for endurance athletes who have specific fueling needs. Grounded in years of hydration and sports nutrition research conducted by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, the Gatorade Endurance line of products help deliver fluids and nutrients endurance athletes need for training and racing. Learn more about the Gatorade Endurance line of products at www.gatoradeendurance.com.
