The eighth stop of the 2017 season will be held on the Yucatán Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea

Summer Cook of the United States leads the women’s start list, but while she has had some strong performances this year, such as finishing fourth in the World Triathlon Series (WTS) race in Edmonton last month, she is yet to win an event.

Last year proved to be a breakthrough year for Cook as she won two World Cups and added two further podium finishes.

She leads a strong American contingent including Chelsea Burns, Lindsay Jerdonek and Kaitlin Donner.

Burns did not race last year but returned to the circuit earlier this year and earned the bronze medal at the Madrid World Cup.

Jerdonek will be making her first World Cup appearance of the year, while Donner has had some American Triathlon Confederation (CAMTRI) event success this year.

Local hopes will be on the shoulders of Claudia Rivas and Vanesa De La Torre.

Rivas earned the bronze medal in the Mooloolaba World Cup, while De La Torre has collected a number of CAMTRI medals this campaign.

Leading the men's field is American Kevin McDowell, who last earned a World Cup podium finish back in 2015.

He is joined by another young US competitor, Seth Rider.

Rider competed in his first WTS race last weekend in Montreal and finished 34th having been in the lead group on the bike. 

Rodrigo Gonzales and Irving Perez of Mexico have both recorded World Cup victories previously and will be backed heavily by their home crowd.

Canada's Matthew Sharpe made it onto his first-ever World Cup podium last year in Montreal, finishing second, and will be hoping to return to the top three tomorrow.

Both the men's and women's elite races are due to take place tomorrow.