Phil Graves is synonymous with British long distance racing and is known for his fast, aggressive, boom or bust cycling and racing - but has been somewhat absent from long course racing this year and has even been popping up at ITU cup races. What’s going on?

Training with the Brownlees, looking for points, it all points to a bid to be considered for a role in Rio. We caught up with Phil to see if the rumours were true, his view on being a domestique (or pilot) and how he feels that affects talent development and his own career.

Hi Phil, how’s it going? You’ve been seen on the ITU circuit mostly this year, can you tell us which races you will be at for the remainder of the year?

Hi, it’s been going ok. Despite some Achilles tendonitis, which has been playing havoc the last few months, hopefully I am finally making some progress.

I have the European Games on my schedule and then I’m really not sure, because of my Achilles I haven’t been able to do much running which has been very frustrating but once I get through the European games then I’ll decide on a way forward, so really, as of now, I can’t tell you.

You’ve been rumored to be training heavily with the Brownlee brothers, and have been picking up points. Would it be fair to say that you are focusing on short course racing with a view to being eligible for selection for Rio 2016?

Yes that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do but unfortunately I haven’t picked up any points as yet. I was just outside the 5% cut off getting points at New Plymouth WC and at Gold Coast WCS. Obviously in Auckland I didn’t run because I pushed too hard on the bike bridging the gap up on the bike so didn’t get any points either so I have a lot of catching up to do to make myself eligible for selection for Rio 2016

Given your notable success and ability on the bike, would it again be fair to guess that you would be going as a “Pilot” to the Brownlee brothers (commonly referred to by many as a domestique) or are you making yourself eligible with a view to qualifying and racing in your own right?

Haha there is no way I would be able to qualify in my own right, I simply don’t have the run speed but if I was eligible and there was a pilot role come up I would of course love to fill it and help support the Medal Zone athletes.

If you are planning to go as a domestique, have British triathlon issued any guidance about how best to meet their selection criteria? Does this match your plan?

Its pretty simple really, make yourself eligible, and then prove you’re the best man for the Pilot job If that role needs filling, which is quite a discretionary decision but its not really rocket science. You just need to make the front swim pack and be able to ride a bike well enough to contribute to a medal winning performance.

If you race as a “Pilot”, how would you tackle the tactics of this race, primarily the swim and bike and how you imagine the race might unfold and your role in it.

It completely depends on the nature of the race, its no secret Al and Jon try and make the bike as difficult as possible to draw the run out of the legs of the fast runners so the primary role would be to support them, make sure they are well looked after during the race.

Also, take some of the pressure off them not having to chase attacks, be paced back on if they puncture or push on during specific points of the race means they can just conserve energy and get to the run in best shape possible.

I imagine your training for this role is somewhat different to your usual regime for long course stuff. What sort of workouts and specific training principles have you been working on?

I’ve really been working on my run over the winter and it was going really well, as I needed to really progress on my 10k speed so I could get the points needed to make myself eligible but due to my sore Achilles this has somewhat been put on hold.

Other than that I haven’t really been doing too much specific training, some harder stuff on the bike obviously and the swimming has had to get more specific but its been the running I’ve really tried to work on over the winter, its just a shame I haven’t been able to show this yet in a race.

Do you get given the impression or understand that there is there an element of competitiveness amongst those competing on the circuit for that 3rd place on the team, either from those willing to go as a “Pilot” or compete for medals in their own right? I’m intrigued about the perception by some that a domestique can be seen to be damaging to the bigger picture of athlete development (rightly or wrongly) and if this reaches you guys at all.

Yes of course there is competition for that 3rd place; the selection policy is so tough that by Chicago WCS final we will have a very clear view of the team all things been well. As for pilot selection, that wont be made until May 2016 but again it should be pretty clear by then who the best person to support Al and Jon, or if someone else suddenly starts running into podium places in WCS and their race strategy is similar to Al and Jon’s, then selection will be pretty easy for the panel to decide.

Regarding holding back athlete development, its up to the individual what sort of avenue they choose to pursue. As senior athletes our roles are already defined but I can see how someone at u23 level might get pulled one way but that’s up to the coaches, federation and athlete to decide. I was racing World u23s as a domestique when I was still a junior at 18 and never felt I got shoehorned into a pilot role, becoming a pilot athlete definitely wasn’t the end of my triathlon career, just the beginning.

The course at Rio is a well-known secret and to me, looks like it would be a great course for you and the Brownlee brothers. Have you seen the proposed route and what are your impressions of it should you get the opportunity to race?

Yes I’ve seen the course and yes it looks absolutely brutal, repetitive very steep climbs and over 8 laps there really are not going to be many athletes left at the end of the 40k ride. I’m sure if Al and Jon could pick up the Rio course and move it to Leeds for the WCS there next year they would be more than pleased. It’s a proper triathlon course and you can sure the next Olympic champion will be a consummate all round athlete.

Will we see you race long course again? What does the future hold for you in triathlon ideally?

I haven’t really thought about that too much at all, I’m just taking things race by race at the moment, going to hopefully have a good race in Baku and then sit down and assess where we go from there, primary objective has to be to get my Achilles sorted before I can even think about trying to go out and get some points to make myself eligible for Olympic selection.