Jimmy Whelan’s Next Challenge: From Pro Peloton to World-Class Field at Geelong 70.3

If you spotted Jimmy Whelan on a Melbourne café run in December or January, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’d never left the pro-cycling scene. Tall, lean and still sporting that effortless cadence, he was rolling between rides and run sessions with the same intensity that once propelled him onto WorldTour rosters. But as the 23rd of March closes in, it’s not a one-day classic or weeklong stage race he’s preparing for—it’s Ironman 70.3 Geelong, where he’ll test himself against some of the world’s top triathletes.

A Shorter Road to Geelong

Back in December, when I first interviewed Jimmy for Trizone, he spoke about triathlon as a fresh start—a break from the relentless contract grind of pro cycling. Then, in a more recent conversation captured at a bustling café in Richmond, he doubled down on that sentiment.

“I needed to step away from the constant auditioning, cycling’s amazing, but one bad day can derail an entire season.”

Now he’s channeled that same determination into balancing three disciplines. After dabbling in local events (including his first-ever tri at the 2XU series in St Kilda), he’s gearing up to face truly world-class competition at Geelong. And make no mistake: even though he jokes about being “no Michael Phelps,” Whelan is taking the swim-bike-run routine seriously.

Training Down Under: A New Kind of Grind

Throughout December and January, Jimmy found himself toggling between swimming, riding, and running in and around Melbourne. He admits he still prefers starting the day with a predawn run, but it’s the swim sessions that have become his biggest challenge:

“Doing ten 100s off 1:30 in the pool is next-level mentally. You barely catch your breath before it’s ‘3…2…1…go’ again,”

he said, reflecting on the shock of building upper-body lactate—something cycling never really prepared him for.

Despite jokes about tri kits (“the fourth discipline is laundry,” he teased) and the dreaded winter wetsuit debacle at St Kilda's 2XU, he’s making strides in the water. Meanwhile, his run background—those 100-kilometer weeks—allows him to recover faster than most new triathletes might. And of course, he still has that monstrous cycling engine to lean on, courtesy of hours spent in the WorldTour.

Embracing the Tri Lifestyle

Part of Jimmy’s new routine involves thriving on variety. If he’s worn down from a big bike block, he’ll focus on swimming or running. That keeps him mentally fresh—and less prone to the burnout he once felt:

“If I need a lighter day or a change of scenery, I take it—no guilt attached,”

he explained, emphasising that he’s learned to listen to his body far more than he did during his pro-cycling days.

He also relishes the communal aspect: popping into group runs or linking up with swim squads. Where pro cycling often demanded insular training camps, triathlon offers a network of athletes sharing tips, gear insights, and plenty of banter on why tri suits seem to be fair game in supermarkets and coffee shops alike.

All Eyes on Geelong 70.3

As race day approaches, Jimmy knows the stakes are high. The 70.3 field in Geelong will feature elite triathletes who’ve spent years refining their skills. Still, he’s keeping the pressure in check:

“I want a long career, not a few burnout seasons,”

he says, hinting that pacing himself for the swim, bike, and run—and for the season beyond—matters more than lighting up the scoreboard on day one.

That said, anyone familiar with Jimmy’s story knows he thrives on intense competition. He’s gone from zero triathlon experience to pro-level racing in a matter of months—an echo of how he once blasted onto the under-23 cycling scene and won the Tour of Flanders on his very first outing. The biggest question is how that raw talent translates when the swim, transitions, and run-off-the-bike fatigue come into play on a world-class stage.

What’s Next?

I’ll be covering the Ironman 70.3 Geelong event in more depth in an upcoming pre-race write-up—breaking down the course, key contenders, and the unique demands of this iconic Aussie race. But for now, consider this your primer on Jimmy Whelan’s bold pivot. If the crowd at Geelong needs a reason to get excited, look no further than the lanky ex-WorldTour rider with a newly acquired tri suit. He’s diving in—literally—to a future where the finish line is never determined by one crash or contract, but by how far his three-discipline engine can carry him. And that’s exactly the kind of storyline that makes triathlon, and Jimmy Whelan, worth watching.