Brownlees looking to cement their places in Olympics

Alistair, 23, and Jonathan, 21, are among the favourites to win Sunday’s London Triathlon in Hyde Park, a vital leg of the 2011 World Series which also doubles as the first of two opportunities to qualify for next summer’s Olympic race in the English capital.

The second and final opportunity comes next month in Beijing. Great Britain’s selection criteria requires athletes to earn a podium finish in either London or Beijing, plus another World Series podium, but is largely based on discretion from selectors.

That should be no trouble for the brothers from Leeds, who have two podiums apiece from just three races this year.

Alistair has won two legs of the World Series so far, in Kitzbuhel and Madrid, the latter ahead of his sibling who finished second.

Jonathan also set himself up for a stab at Olympic gold by recording a second-place finish in the season opener in Sydney.

Given their track record, at least one of them should have their selection wrapped up on Sunday, with Alistair the favourite to do so having claimed the World Series title in 2009 and last month winning the European title for the second year in a row.

He also won his home leg en route to the world title two years ago, and with Jonathan finishing second in London 12 months ago and runner-up to Alistair at the European Championships, the Yorkshiremen are the men to beat on Sunday.

But despite the expectation, Alistair yesterday attempted to play down the hype by suggesting the Olympic course was not one that suited his eye.

“It’s not the ideal course for 2012,” he said. “It’s no secret that I’d like it to go up a massive hill and for the bike and run to be hard.

“If that was the case and if Jonny and I could be in the race, we’d have a much more guaranteed chance of a medal – if not two.

“But the course is what it is and one of the signs of being a great athlete is being able to race on any course on any day in any conditions, even if you’re having a bad day. I’ve got to get on with it. It’s an important event for confidence and to qualify for the Olympics.”

Their decision to prioritise the European Championships and not race in the most recent meet in Hamburg means Alistair is seventh and Jonathan eighth in the series rankings.

Sunday’s race is the athletes’ one and only opportunity to run next year’s Olympic course before they compete for gold on August 7, 2012.