As a leg of the Australian Championship, the winner of the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40km ride and 10km run through Belmore Basin and North Wollongong races will travel to the ITU world triathlon event in the United States.

Further boosting its standing as one of Australia’s major triathlon events, the Trithegong Festival will also include the ITU Oceania Cup sprint race.

More than 2500 entrants from beginners to elite competitors  including Wollongong’s leading adventure triathlete.

Festival co-ordinator Bruce Nugara said the chance to race in Chicago was a huge coup for Wollongong.

‘‘It’s first time we’ve held an Australian championship race here in a long time,’’ he said.

‘The standard [Olympic] distance has always been part of our schedule, but it certainly takes on extra significance with a chance to compete on the ITU stage with the world’s best.

‘‘Having the Oceania Cup event also ensures we have some of the best sprint distance triathletes in town as well.’’

The race finish and transition area is at Lang Park. The swim course is at Belmore Basin, the run stretches along Stuart Park and the ride winds along North Wollongong.

The Chicago event is the last ITU race on the 2015 schedule, which starts this weekend in Abu Dhabi. It features Australia’s premier triathletes, including Wollongong Wizards elite training squad members Aaron Royle and Ryan Bailie.

Several other members of the Wizards will headline the Trithegong festival, including 23-year-old Australian Grace Musgrove, England’s Jacqui Slack and Canadian Sarah Brault.

Endurance adventure athlete Ben Allen, rising teenage Australian talent Luke Willian and 2014 world duathlon champion Jake Birtwhistle will head the men’s pack.

Nugara stressed the weekend festival was a chance to not only catch some of the world’s most talented triathletes but also for beginners to have a taste of racing.

The festival starts on Saturday morning with a ‘‘Try A Tri’’ event for first-timers and ‘‘Enticer’’ race for those chasing experience.

The junior ‘‘Mini-Man’’ and NSW Junior Series events will also be held, before the elite racers start on Sunday.

‘‘The schedule is to try and cater for all needs, from those finding their feet, to juniors and up to the elite athletes,’’ Nugara said.

SATURDAY

6.30am: Registrations open, Lang Park

8am: Women’s Enticer

9am: Men’s Enticer

9.30am: Try A Tri

11.30am: Mini-Man triathlon (ages 7-9)

SUNDAY

5am: Registrations open, Lang Park

7am: Olympic standard distance

10.30am: Elite men’s OTU sprint

11.15am: Elite women’s OTU sprint

Noon: Sprint distance race

* Races start at Belmore Basin

* More info, visit eliteenergy.com.au