Tyler Mislawchuk was back on top of the Huatulco World Cup podium for the first time since 2001, Sunday's victory taking the Canadian's tally to a remarkable three golds and two silvers on the hot and humid sprint-distance course.

After a great swim set him up well and the pace dipped among a huge bike pack, it was all about setting the pace hard out of transition and onto the 5km run. Mislawchuk was quickest onto the gas and, despite being passed by USA's Sullivan Middaugh at around the 3km mark, the 31-year-old had enough left in the tank to build one more surge and pull clear of his rival one more, decisive time. Middaugh took an excellent silver, Brazilian newcomer Vinicius Ava Santana holding on to a fine bronze. 

“That feels just as good as the first (win here), a good battle with Sullivan out there and it’s a hot day so I wanted to get it done as quick as possible,' admitted Mislawchuk. 'I just went as hard as I could, the last two times Ive mis-timed it and come second in a sprint so didn’t want to leave it to chance. When Sullivan caught me I just wanted to relax, refocus and get some water in, and build for one last surge.”
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Continuing to make his mark early on in some big races in 2026, the USA's Blake Bullard was setting the pace in the 750m ocean swim along with Nicolas Probert Vargas (MEX) and Kevin Tarek Vinuela (ESP), Mislawchuk in fourth, Mathis Beaulieu hot on his compatriot’s heels along with Braxton Legg (USA). 

Only 10 seconds separated the top 25 athletes after the first 5km bike lap of four, and that had all but doubled one lap later as the 20km bike began to look like a procession, the athletes up to 8 wide across the course and focussed more on safety and positioning into T2 than setting any real pace.

Bradley Course was first in, Mislawchuk well placed too, former medallist here Genis Grau (ESP) and Chile’s Andree Buc also among the first to rack their bikes and head out onto the run.

Brazil’s Vinicius Santana and Mislawchuk were first onto the gas, Braxton Legg and Buc holding on behind, Toby Powers (AUS) going through the gears well to stay in touch with Aram Penaflor (MEX) sitting on his shoulder. 

But soon it was Mislawchuk in familiar territory out front alone and building a useful gap, only for Sullivan Middaugh to slowly reel in the Canadian, right on his heels at the bell, Buc drifting 13 seconds back alongside Reese Vannerson (USA) and Kuba Gadja.

Middaugh then took to the front, Mislawchuk letting him in but not away, sitting in his slipstream with 1km to go and building up to one last surge. It came at the final incline, the American gapped marginally on the way up, then decisively after the crest of the hill, Mislawchuk powering clear to take the tape by 9 seconds from the American, Santana holding on for a famous bronze for the new Brazilian talent, Vannerson fourth from Poland's Gajda.

Sullivan Middaugh:
“Tyler made a big surge halfway through the first lap and gapped me, and I knew I had to make a push to catch him. He had me lead and I felt good, but he made the move halfway through the second lap and I broke at the crest of the final hill, but I gave it all I had. I was pushing all I had, kudos to Tyler for a really good day.” 

Vinicius Ava Santana:
“This is my first podium in a World Cup, it was so hard. I am so happy and want to thank my father and mother and all my family, who are so important to this moment. We have trained so hard to acclimatise into this and be ready for this moment.”