Chicago to start hosting ITU Triathlons starting in 2014

Wow! And the event will be the Olympic qualifiers in 2015

Looks like 2015 will be ITU age group World Championships as well! That's pretty exciting to race Worlds in our hometown!

Would be interesting just to watch the elites. Can you just sign up for age group or do you have to qualify somehow? Not familiar enough as this is my first year

I believe in each year they will have a general entry age group race. However, in 2015 it will be the ITU age group World Championships which you'll have to qualify for. You'll have to qualify for USA Triathlon National Championships in Milwaukee 2014; and place top 18 in your age group to qualify for 2015 Worlds.

So 2014 if I want to race it. I am prob just a bit to slow to qualify for 2015 nationals

shouldn't the Olympic qualifier be in 2016?

No, the Olympics are in 2016. Before this race happens that year.

I did the ITU Championships (as an AGer who was allowed to just sign up) in London when it was there. It's crazy because the bike course is a bunch of short loops and get's super narrow and crowded. I had a lady coming into me so I had to stay outside to avoid her hitting me and an elite was flying up behind me yelling to move, but I couldn't without taking out the lady, myself and probably a dozen people behind me. Needless to say he and I had a very brief exchange of pleasantries as he went by me.

Anyway these races are very tight so you have to be up on your bike skills to avoid being run over or running over others.

I am excited.