Birtwhistle to lead Aussie bid

TASMANIAN star Jake Birtwhistle will headline Australia’s triumphant Commonwealth Games triathletes for the Australian Triathlon team for next month’s ITU World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast.

A 10-strong Australian Elite team — led by current World No.3 and Games silver medallist Birtwhistle and 2017 World Series No.2 Ashleigh Gentle — will line up against the world’s best determined to put on a strong showing at home.

Birtwhistle is well and truly in striking distance of a podium finish.

The 23-year-old Tasmanian is currently sitting in third place on the WTS rankings behind two-time and defending world champion, Spain’s Mario Mola and Vincent Luis (France).

Mola looks to have his third straight title in the bag, with the Montreal round and the Gold Coast Grand Final remaining.

The flying Spaniard leads on 4850 points, well ahead of Luis (3810) and Birtwhistle (3245) third, in a position for his first-ever podium.

Birtwhistle will be joined by fellow Games representative Luke Willian in the men’s team and Gentle, Charlotte McShane and Gillian Backhouse from the women’s team. Matt Hauser, fourth at the Games and a member of the mixed relay gold-medal team, is still recovering after a bike crash sidelined him with a dislocated shoulder and broken finger in May.

Also on the Elite team will be Rio Olympic trio Aaron Royle, Ryan Bailie and Ryan Fisher, with emerging Marcel Walkington named as a reserve.

In the women’s team, NSW pair Natalie Van Coevorden and Emma Jeffcoat have been named after outstanding seasons.

Gentle will return home to the Gold Coast to represent Australia on her 11th Australian team — her seventh Elite team.