Australian professional cyclist Cam Wurf ticked off a big goal for the year after qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championships in Nice with a second place finish at IRONMAN Austria.

For the PTO World #41, Nice will mark his sixth IRONMAN World Championships, with his best finish coming in 2019, where he finished in fifth, less than five minutes off the podium as he set the bike course record.

Taking to Instagram after the race in Austria, Wurf revealed he had some doubts about his ability to qualify after missing out at IRONMAN South Africa and IRONMAN Lanzarote, but was now ready to start gearing up for the world championships on the French Riviera.

“I’ve now got three months to sharpen the tools”

Explaining his finish line celebration in Austria, Wurf said that securing his slot in September meant a lot, especially after having had to work so hard for that elusive golden ticket.

“I wouldn’t usually celebrate in such a fashion for finishing second however qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championships has been a big challenge for me this year.

“I failed in both South Africa and Lanzarote and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’d had nightmares about not making the grade. Fortunately today I managed to do enough to earn my start position in Nice on September 10.

“I have now got three months to sharpen the tools and get ready to face the best of the best in Ironman triathlon. I’m feeling pretty chippy I must say!”

Ending his post with a thank you to the crowd in Austria, Wurf emphasised just how great the support out on the race course was, whilst also crediting his competitors.

“Massive thanks to the Klagenfurt crowd, you were absolutely off your rockers out there, it was awesome. Huge congratulations to Mathias for your first Ironman win, it certainly won’t be your last! And to Georg for being the converted first Austrian and being on the final podium, great racing lads!”