Royle ready to rumble in Rio triathlon

Racing well in Rio a year ago meant even more to Australian triathlete Aaron Royle than his priceless reward.

The 25-year-old from Newcastle will make his Olympic debut on Thursday (Friday morning AEST) at Fort Copacabana.

Royle's sixth place in the test event last August gave him early Olympic pre-selection, meaning no pressure and plenty of freedom with his planning.

Ryan Bailie had to wait until April to confirm his selection and Ryan Fisher was a discretionary pick.

But even above that early confirmation, Royle said his top-10 finish in a world-class field showed that the Rio course suits him.

"The biggest one mainly for me is having confidence that I was able to perform on this course already," he said.

With its surf swim, tough bike course and forecast hot conditions, it is a race that would not be out of place in Australia.

"Absolutely - from all reports, there is some surf down at Copacabana," Royle said.

"I love surf, I grew up in Newcastle and Wollongong.

"Then the hilly course with the heat as well, it's a course that I think does suit the Australians."

The three Australians will need all the advantages they can take.

Great Britain's Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, are back after they took gold and bronze at the London Olympics.

While Spaniard Javier Gomez is out injured, compatriot Mario Mola is another man to beat.

"Obviously the Brownlees are going in as favourites, especially with Javier Gomez gone and the way the course is," Royle said.

"Mola's swim is his weakness and we're all looking to expose that, I guess.

"It being my strength, it's somewhere I can really can take advantage."

Royle had another confidence boost in June when he finished third behind the Brownlees at the world series race in Leeds.

"It showed the form was coming in at the right time," he said.

Australia has won at least one triathlon medal at each Olympics since the sport's Sydney debut - all by women.

Thursday's race is a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.