KEIGHLEY triathlete Jimmy Lund starts his World Cup campaign in Rome on Saturday, and a spot at the Olympics in Paris next year is still within reach.

Second-placed finishes in marquee British triathlon events at Eton Dorney and Mallory Park secured Lund his spot on the start line in Italy.

Reflecting on his journey to get here, he told the Keighley News: “I was always confident I’d make it in the end, but it was a tough process.

“I expected to qualify a bit sooner but the quality in Europe has risen over the last year, so it was difficult to get the top five I needed to make the World Cup that way, my best being eighth in Poland.

“But with the British races, I knew I had it in me, my form got better throughout the season and I got the top threes I needed there to make the World Cup.”

On Saturday’s event in Rome itself, he said: “It’s a new challenge to take on and just looking at the names on the start line, it looks like the toughest World Cup event of the season.

“That makes it an even bigger challenge to take on for me, being my debut.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Keighley triathlete Jimmy Lund faces arguably his toughest triathlon test to date this weekend.Keighley triathlete Jimmy Lund faces arguably his toughest triathlon test to date this weekend. (Image: UGC.)

“I’m training partners with Barclay Izzard though, and we’re staying together out there.

“He’s raced at World Series level and in Paris test events for the Olympics,

“The water quality in the River Seine for the Olympics is still a bit of an unknown, and it’s because this is the first year organisers have really clamped down on testing rivers and seas.

“All these adverse findings have come a bit out of the blue and in Italy we’re not sure on the swim either, as they’re still doing more tests on the water.

“It could just be a duathlon with cycling and running in Rome, but fingers crossed that’s not the case, as swimming is my strongest suit of the three.”

Lund will want as many events as possible to contain a swimming leg to build on that outside chance of qualifying for Paris.

He said: “A top five at one of the World Cup events puts me on to the (higher-level) World Series.

“Any Brit to show what they can do over these last few months of qualification for Paris at World Cup or World Series level can get into position to make the Olympics.

“Alex Yee is fully set to go there as our top triathlete but if we get the likely three places we’re expecting for Team GB, second and third spots are up for grabs in Paris.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jimmy Lund and fellow triathlete Chris Perham both have a shot of making the Team GB squad for Paris.Jimmy Lund and fellow triathlete Chris Perham both have a shot of making the Team GB squad for Paris. (Image: UGC.)

“My main objective though is to get experience at this World Cup level and dedicate the next year to racing in it.

“You can pick and choose the World Cup events you go for, but the European ones are always the most important.”

Lund was excited for a rare trip outside of Europe in August, to compete at the World Beach Games in Bali.

Sadly, he confirmed: “The event was cancelled in the end as Bali couldn’t run it, but because they pulled out in July, no-one else could host at such short notice.

“One of my main goals was to have headed out there and competed at a World Championship Games, so it was a shame.”