Professional triathlete Tyler Butterfield yesterday reflected on an outstanding year competing on the world stage in only his first full season since returning to triathlon from cycling.

Butterfield quit pro cycling to concentrate on his first love, triathlon, around 18 months ago and enjoyed a terrific 2009, finishing third in the Monaco Ironman and fourth in the Cozumel Ironman to qualify for the World Championships in Hawaii.

He said he had no regrets about switching back to triathlon and admitted he had found the physical demands and pressures of being a pro cyclist tough to handle at times.

"In triathlon you decide your own schedule whereas in cycling you are under contract, the team pretty much owns your body," said Butterfield, who had two stints as an amateur cyclist at French-based Vendee U and a season with pro outfit Slipsteam.

"You are like a racehorse in many ways. The team decides when and where you race regardless of whether you are sick or injured. You can still help a team-mate win and cannot just skip a race

"I doubt I will ever go back to pro cycling. I am glad I did it, I have no regrets and for four years I gave it a good go. I had a wonderful experience living in France and Spain.

"But it is not good to keep switching back and forth as you will never give yourself a chance to succeed."

The Hawaii Ironman, held in October, will be Butterfield's top priority in 2010.

Made famous by its gruelling length, harsh race conditions and television coverage, the Hawaii Ironman is still regarded as the most honoured and prestigious triathlon to win worldwide, and it is an event in which Butterfield's father Jim excelled some 30 years ago.

"Things have been going really well for me and I am excited about the year ahead," said Butterfield, a veteran of one Olympics and two Commonwealth Games. "My focus in 2010 will be the Hawaii Ironman in October – it is the World Championships for triathlon and I will be gearing my training programme towards it.

"Once or twice last year I was able to slow down and miss a race or two. I have that luxury now I am my own boss. I still have the option to enter running and cycling races if I wish, although I try to avoid doing too much swimming!"

Yesterday Butterfield, 26, finished third in the Fairmont to Fairmont road race in a time of 38 minutes, 49 seconds and plans to kick-start the new year by competing in a half-marathon in Chile later this month as he looks to build on his impressive '09.

"I have had a little break for the winter but I will probably return to action in a half-marathon in Chile later this month. I will only be at 80 or 90 percent as I do not want to do any damage ahead of the rest of the year."