As USA's Andrew Starykowicz calls time on his professional triathlon career this year, the 42-year-old from Chicago will leave a legacy as one of the sport's most powerful cyclists.

An All-American swimmer in college, who races by the mantra of 'fighting hard to win and punish', Starky as he often referred to would blow races apart on the bike, then try and stay strong on the run.

Never afraid to speak his mind, it's been colourful and controversial at times. Detained in the Middle East following an in-race collision, there was also a public spat with Ironman after a failed drugs test in 2019 for a non-approved inhaler when sick. Starykowicz even had a spoof alterego created online that later turned into an irreverent satirical triathlon podcast, The Real Starky.

A qualified mechanical engineer, he also recovered from some serious bike crashes, particularly in 2016, where he was hit and dragged under a truck. As he winds down his career, we caught up with him one last time to get the unfiltered Starykowicz view on everything triathlon....

220: Can you remember your first pro race?

AS: The Treasure Island triathlon in San Francisco in November 2005. The event was draft-legal Olympic distance and it was the TriCal series finale, which was one of the world's premier pro series at the time and included famous races like Wildflower and Escape From Alcatraz.

I did everything you shouldn't. I got gapped mid-swim, drove the chase pack, and then all the people I pulled up on the bike outran me. I finished 11th, one spot out of the money. It was a quick wake-up call that the pro ranks are ruthless.

220: There was a period where it looked like you were trying to smash sub-4hr bike splits. Did it work or did you usually overcook it and blow a your lead on the run?