Olympic bronze medallist Jonny Brownlee will not be defending his San Diego World Triathlon Series title later this month after injury ruled him out of a trip to America.
The 22-year-old current world champion finished third at London 2012 but has seen the start to this season affected by an ankle injury.
His brother Alistair, who won gold in the capital last summer, will still race in San Diego but Jonny admits that his own campaign is a little more blurred.
"Not being on the San Diego start line will be very tough," he said.
"I haven't started training properly so I don't know when I'm going to start racing.
"It's been a combination of a few injuries but the first major one was when I tore a tendon in my ankle.
"I raced the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships and it was on a really rough course.
"I turned up and there were a load of little kids who had stayed to watch me run and thought 'I can't not do it'. To this day I wish I hadn't run that race."
Having sat out the World Triathlon Series opener in New Zealand at the weekend and being forced out of the second in San Diego, Jonny Brownlee faces a rest against time to qualify for the Grand Final in London in September.
Hopefuls must compete in four of seven events to make it back to the capital this summer and, despite this setback he, is confident of returning to the scene of his Olympic triumph.
"I can afford to miss San Diego and give myself more time," he added.
"I am considering going to Yokohama next month to get my season under way there.
“I've not raced the World Series there before so that will be something to look forward to, and of course my focus is on getting to the Grand Final in London in the best shape that I can."
© Sportsbeat 2013