The group will also compete in two further Pan American Cup events this month, at La Paz on January 16 and Roatan on January 23.

Adam Bowden (pictured), the highest world ranked triathlete taking part, 78th in the lists, will be hoping to make an early impression on 2011 which will lift him even higher.

Meanwhile Matt Sharp, 15th in the recent sprint world championships, will be getting an invaluable taste of further top class competition.

The other members of the British group current training and touring around Pan America, most of them from the World Class Development programme, are Aaron Harris, Mark Threlfall, Harry Wiltshire and Marc Jenkins, with Abbie Thorrington taking part in the women's event.

"These young triathletes will be learning to compete in challenging conditions, but as well as improving their own performances they will also be contributing points to help ensure British success in 2012," a spokeswoman for British Triathlon told insidethegames.

"It's all part of a team approach to help ensure that Britain has a maximum of three men and three women competing in London 2012."

While the standard number for each country in the 55-strong Olympic field will be two men and two women, the eight leading nations will be entitled to an extra competitor in each field.

Britain current tops those rankings.

Britain will be using this year's world series event in Hyde Park - the Dextro Energy Triathlon presented by Tata Steel, and the Grand Final in Beijing, China as its primary selection races.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]