After racing through the streets of his hometown Leeds the other week, Tom Bishop finished the World Triathlon Series race in an impressive fifth place to raise his Gold Coast 2018 hopes.

In a leader board that saw four out of the top from Great Britain, Bishop now believes that he can qualify for Gold Coast at next month’s race in Hamburg.

Team England caught up with Tom after the race where he spoke to us about the race and his ambitions for 2017 and beyond.

“It was awesome to be back in my home town,” he said.

“I was so excited when I heard last year that Leeds had another two years doing this race so this was a target race for me.

“I’m really happy with my race. I just missed out on third, Fernando Alarza really pushed me hard but it’s great to see Jonny and Alistair get back on the top steps of the podium.”

Tom finished just behind Adam Bowden in fourth, while the familiar Alistair and Jonny Brownlee brothers finished in first and second respectively.

He said: “Living in Leeds for eight years now, to hear my name shouted by so many people was absolutely awesome.

“They got behind us and really pushed us in one of the best British performances, in a World Series race.”

And after narrowly missing out on a top three, Tom enters the Hamburg race in July full of confidence with Gold Coast 2018 firmly on his mind.

He said: “I’m yet to qualify for the Gold Coast so my selection race is in Hamburg. Jonny and Alistair have hit the criteria already so I just need to deliver in Hamburg.

“I’m feeling positive. I think I can do it. Basically, I need to get another top five or try and get on the podium and, I think I can do it.”

With the current strength of runners in British Triathlon, nothing can be taken for granted, but with such a strong-team ethic, everyone is desperate to be a part of Team England next year.

“It’s awesome to be a part of this set-up at the moment,” he said. “Jonny and Alistair got Olympic medals again in Rio and I am now looking forward to Tokyo in three years’ time, hopefully I can make the team.

“It would be absolutely awesome if I made it to the Gold Coast. It would be my first multi-sport event and just representing your country, any race is great. Going to the Commonwealth Games would be very special.”