KEY POINTS:
World number two Bevan Docherty heads a strong pool of New Zealanders entered for the eighth round of the International Triathlon Union World Cup series in Edmonton, Canada, early on Monday (NZ time).
The athletes will be racing for valuable ranking points and a total prize purse of US$100,000 ($130,000).
The New Zealanders will also be defending the title on behalf of Hamish Carter, who won here last year in his final World Cup victory before retirement.
Docherty, who finished second last week at the Des Moines, Iowa, round in the United States, is joined by world number four Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed (10th), Terrenzo Bozzone (96th) and Martin Van Barneveld (148th).
Docherty has enjoyed a fruitful World Cup season, having picked up a fourth and two second placings in his three races this year.
Debbie Tanner and Evelyn Williamson are both backing up after Des Moines on Monday.
Williamson will be looking for a drastic improvement in form after being well off the pace last week and Tanner will be all the sharper for her efforts in Iowa after spending a month training at altitude.
She is just keen to get back racing after Des Moines, where conditions led to half the field pulling out.
"I am looking forward to racing again this weekend in what should be more suitable conditions. Des Moines was a hard race - I don't think anyone expected conditions to be quite as brutal as they were."
- NZPA
