Scotland’s top triathlete, Marc Austin, made his name at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games by taking the race to the world-leading Brownlee brothers in impressive fashion, with that performance showing just how much potential he had.

An impressive junior career, which included world championship silver medals at both junior and Under-23 level, proved that he was one of the very best triathletes of his age, but then came the notoriously tricky task of transferring that junior potential into results on the senior stage.

This year has been Austin’s maiden season in the senior ranks and it has, perhaps not unsurprisingly, had its ups and downs. However, the 23-year-old is looking to finish his season on a high by putting in a strong performance at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, which takes place tomorrow in Rotterdam. Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee is missing as he pursues Ironman success, but the Englishman’s absence makes the field only negligibly weaker and it will be no easy task for Austin to make his mark, with defending champion Mario Mola and five-time world champion Javier Gomez heading the field, as well as double Olympic silver medallist, Jonathan Brownlee, looking to add to his world title from 2012.

Austin knows, though, that he has what it takes to mix it with the best. The Stirling-based Glaswegian is currently ranked No.37 in the world, but a fourth-place finish in the ITU Triathlon World Cup in Madrid in May was proof that he has the ability to compete with the very best in the world. Therefore, his targets for the Grand Final in Rotterdam tomorrow remain somewhat vague, but Austin certainly does not lack ambition.

“I’ve never medalled at a World Series event so it’s hard to go in with a specific target because sometimes you can put down a great performance and it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a great result,” he said. “But I definitely feel like I’m in my best shape ever and so hopefully I can capitalise on that. I’d be happy with top 15 or even top 10 – that’s what I feel like I can do.”

This entire year has been a string of learning experiences for Austin and he admits that, with each race, he has become more comfortable in his environment. Add to that another new experience just last month when he spent five weeks at altitude in Livigno in the Italian Alps as he finalised his preparations for this weekend’s race, he has developed considerably as an athlete this year. Austin’s increased experience does not, however, make the practice of racing any easier, with a prerequisite of elite triathlon being that one must have used every ounce of energy in one’s body on crossing the finish line.

“I definitely feel like I’m improving and it’s really about learning how to get the most out of yourself in these standard of races,” he said. “My background is in swimming although actually, my preference is probably the run but it’s good to be decent at swimming because it means you’re up near the front of the race. You try to get to the run as fresh as you can so you’re constantly trying to measure your effort – if you’re considering putting a hard effort in on the bike, you have to think about what you will gain from that. And when you get to the run, that’s when you start to really empty yourself.”

Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, Austin will take a well-earned break – although he will not stop training entirely – before he gets back down to business with his primary focus being the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, which are now less than seven months away.

“With the Commonwealth Games being in April, that’s quite early in the year to be in peak shape so I’ll have to get back into training earlier than I usually would,” he said. “Normally, up until December is pretty laid back but this year, things will start to get pretty intense around the start of November to make sure I get in really good shape. I’m really excited about the Commonwealth Games though and it’s the only chance I get to represent Scotland rather than GB so that’s always nice.”

At Glasgow 2014, Austin could not sustain his gutsy attack on the race and he ultimately finished in 22nd position. The 2018 edition will be no less challenging, with South Africa’s world number three, Richard Murray, currently the top-ranked Commonwealth athlete and Englishmen Jonathan Brownlee and Tom Bishop, ranked sixth and eight in the word respectively also likely to be in the mix for gold. However, Austin is optimistic that he can make his presence felt too. “There’ll be a few really fast runners in the Commonwealth Games and some good swimmers too but I’d definitely like to be a part of the swim to bike break-away and if there’s only five or so guys in that breakaway then your chances of getting a medal are quite high,” he said. “You’ve got Jonny and Tom who are obviously fantastic athletes and will be very hard to beat but I will want to race aggressively and from the front because that heightens the prospect of getting medal. So I definitely feel like I’ve got a chance but there’ll be ten or twelve other guys who will be saying exactly the same thing.”