Australian triathlete Aaron Royle has hailed a new training regime with British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee ahead of the world series meet in Leeds.
Royle was the first Australian finisher in ninth at last year's Rio Olympics behind gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and his brother Jonathan who took bronze.
He left Wollongong after the Games for northern England to link with the Brownlees.
"My new training environment in Leeds has been great. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I am enjoying the challenge of testing myself against the two best triathletes in ITU of recent years," Royle said.
Royle has not competed in any of the first three world triathlon series events of the year after suffering a foot injury in early February.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
After the Leeds leg this weekend, Royle has set his sights on the Hamburg triathlon, which doubles as Australia's second automatic nomination race for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
"I will do a French GP as a hit-out just before Hamburg and the only aim I had in mind was to be back fit and racing well by then," he said.
"So Leeds this weekend is a bonus."
Ashleigh Gentle, who finished 26th at the Rio Olympics, heads Australia's charge in the women's event as she bids to improve her fourth-place position in world championship rankings.
