KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's leading triathletes Bevan Docherty and Samantha Warriner could finish no better than 12th place in the World Cup race at Cancun this morning (NZ time).
World No 3 Docherty posted one of the quickest run splits in the field but it wasn't enough to haul in the bulk of a leading group of 15 who had opened up a sizeable lead on the bike leg.
Canadian Simon Whitfield defied gusty, swirling winds to claim his third World Cup title of the year.
In a sprint finish, world No 2 Whitfield edged out unheralded compatriot Paul Tichelaar. Volodymyr Polikarpenko of the Ukraine took bronze, preventing a full Canadian podium sweep with Brent McMahon in fourth place.
Of the other New Zealand men, Terenzo Bozzone was 24th while Kris Gemmell withdrew early on the bike leg.
Reigning Pan Am Games gold medalist Julie Ertel of the United States won her first World Cup title, heading off France's Carole Peon and American Sarah Haskins.
Shallow conditions suited the strong American swimmers and Warriner found herself outside the 10-strong group that established a lead on the bike leg.
One race remains in the series, at Eilat in Israel for the first time, on December 1.
A US$250,000 ($331,257) bonus pool which will be divided up among the leading series finishers.
- NZPA
