Thousands of the best amateur triathletes in the country will compete for age-group national championships in Milwaukee in 2013 and 2014, the sport’s governing agency announced Tuesday.

USA Triathlon picked Milwaukee to host the event on Aug. 10 and 11.

“Milwaukee provides our competitors with a big-city feel and offer many amenities that make it an appealing host for this event,” said USA Triathlon CEO Rob Urbach. “We look forward to working with the city of Milwaukee over the coming months to build a memorable race experience.”

The Olympic distance races on Aug. 10 and the Sprint championships on Aug. 11 will be based on the lakefront, adjacent to the Henry Maier Festival Park. The swim portion will be in Lake Michigan and the bike and run legs will be on nearby city streets. The same area is used regularly for running events, particularly the Lakefront Discovery Run and the Summerfest Rock ‘n Sole.

The previous two USA Triathlon age-group national competitions were set in Burlington, Vt., and drew 3,500 athletes.

“Our strong triathlete community and award-winning Milwaukee County Parks situated on the picturesque Lake Michigan lakefront set the stage for this nationally recognized event, which promises to attract athletes from around the country,” said VISIT Milwaukee Vice President of Sales & Marketing Brent Foerster.