With a new season of racing comes a whole new set of challenges for Australian triathlete Kye Robinson.
Despite the uncertainty that comes with stepping into a new age group, tackling a brand-new World Championship event and trialling one less discipline, Robinson has proved he has the ability to adapt.
Straight out of the gate at the first ever Multi-Sport World Championships in Townsville, the Bond University business student came second in the 20-24 age group duathlon - an event that moves through a 5km run, 20km bike and finishes with a 2km run.
He is now in training for the Olympic Distance World Championships in Spain which is closely followed by the Noosa Triathlon, in October this year,
where he will race in the open category for the first time.
This man on a mission is known for well executed game plans and it was a strength that reaped rewards at the World Championships as his strong start set the scene for the rest of the race.
“I definitely had a race plan which was about getting on the front pack no matter what.
“Then once on the bike I just needed to be smart and reassess,” he said.
“It all went according to plan. I was able to stick to the front pack while others dropped off.
“I put myself in a really good position going into that last run.”
The apple never falls to far from the tree when it comes to endurance athletes it seems.
Robinson’s parents, Ian and Michelle also competed in the Multi-Sport World Championships.
“When they were younger my mum was a pretty accomplished swimmer and my dad was pretty good at triathlons, but he had to quit for work,” he said.
“They both jumped back into it recently. They just have more time for it now.”
Robinson gives a lot of the credit for his most recent result to his preseason training camp with coach Nathan Mills in the hills of France.
“It was eight or nine days of just riding every day, climbing and more climbing for 6-8 hours a day,” Robinson said.
“So, it really built up my legs and it also gave me a new mindset.
“Now, anytime I hit a hill its nothing compared to the 26km climbs that we were doing over there.
“It was a great experience because you can’t get that here.
“Australia has relatively steep and short hills.
“The longest climb you get is probably dead horse gap and that only a 14km climb.”