Champion Brownlee back and ready for the battle

The 22-year-old from Leeds was a relative unknown outside the world of triathlon 12 months ago when he triumphed in the Spanish capital to spark a run of five successive wins around the globe that sealed his surprising, but thoroughly merited world title.

He belatedly launches his defence in Madrid this weekend having missed the first two races of the 2010 World Championship Series in Sydney and Seoul while recovering from a femural stress fracture.

Given that he is not yet up to race fitness and would need to win each of the remaining five races to defend his crown, and that the only thing missing from a remarkable 2009 was a European title, his focus has shifted.

Hence his determination to triumph at the European Championships in Athlone, Ireland, on July 3.

"I finished second in the Euros last year which was a bit of a shame in an otherwise brilliant season," said Brownlee, whose success in Madrid last year had its roots in an impressive Olympic debut in Beijing the previous summer.

"Because of what I achieved in the worlds I wasn't really bothered at the time, but it would be a title I've not won before.

"It would be a big thing for me to add a European title to a world title."

Hamburg, London and Kitzbuhel are the next stops on the World Championship Series rota, with the grand final scheduled for Budapest in September.

It was at the grand final stage in Australia last year that Brownlee – a Dewsbury-born Leeds Metropolitan University student – capped his remarkable triumph.

"This time last year I never thought I would be world champion, but as every race progressed I gained in confidence," recalled Brownlee of his wins in Madrid, Washington DC, Kitzbuhel, London and the Gold Coast.

"In Madrid last year I won by quite a distance and that was quite a shock. As every race goes on you want that to continue, while trying not to push your luck too much by thinking too far ahead.

"Your expectations grow with the performances."

As his expectations grew, so the attention of his rivals shifted towards him in a physically demanding sport where violence is part and parcel of the experience.

"Tactics towards me started to change, even before I was world champion," said Brownlee, whose brother Jonathan, 20, is also in the team for this weekend's event. "After one or two good performances you're identified as a threat, so they're not going to let you ride off the front – you're a watched man.

"Do people give you more respect as world champion? Probably not.

"In the swim if someone can punch you to beat you to a buoy they still will.

"It's not meaningful violence, but if there's a guy in front of you and if you feel his shoulder, you're going to pull it. If it's Jonathan I'll try and avoid him. We seem to end up next to each other in swims all the time... just flying along and there he is.

"I would never go for him intentionally and if I saw him I'd probably try to avoid him.

"It's just trying to get around the course as quick as possible."

Brownlee leads a team of nine, with British triathlon coach Joel Filliol hoping his star pupil can avoid the kicking and punching element of the swim as the team prepare for bigger challenges.

Filliol said: "Alistair lacks race fitness and has had a gap in his training, but we're excited about his return to competition.

"Having missed out on two points-scoring opportunities already, it will be difficult for Alistair to gain enough points to win this year.

"Our plan for the whole team this season has always been to prioritise the London triathlon and the grand final in Budapest."

Brownlee was speaking in his role as ambassador for the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme which supports emerging British sporting talent on their journey to London 2012.

Such a role is now a common aspect of Brownlee's life following his exploits last summer.

"I really enjoy ambassadorial things, identifying to younger people the things that made a big difference to me when I was younger," he said.

"As much as anything it's just passing on my experiences, what it's like to have a career in sport, dealing with the media, the travel aspects and financing yourself. It's not just about training.

"As I have found out it can all change so quickly and it's a lot easier when you're young because you make big improvements year-on-year and things change really quickly.

"Enjoyment, though, is the key, you have to enjoy what you do."