Alistair Brownlee has claimed that he will aim for his third world title this year.

The 26-year-old has not clinched the honour since 2011 due to competition from his brother Jonny, but both have struggled to beat Spain's Javier Gomez in the last two years.

This year, the first of 10 races will begin in early March in Abu Dhabi and the season will be concluded six months later in Chicago in the Grand Final.

"It was such a shame not to be able to have a really good crack at the world series last year," The Yorkshire Post quotes Brownlee as saying. "That could have made it a perfect season.

"I'd really like to be able to compete for the world title this year and hopefully that will be the case. It's been a long time so hopefully I can change that."

Brownlee, who won triathlon gold at the London 2012 Olympics, ended last year as European and Commonwealth champion.