Seven-time and reigning world champion Pavel Andreev clinched victory in the men's event with Daria Rogozina, who is also the current world champion, winning the women's race.

The ITU announced the hosting of the World Cup in November as they continue to promote the winter discipline, which features running, cycling and cross-country skiing.

Action in Harbin included racing on a frozen river with temperatures plummeting to 16 degrees below zero.

Russia's Dmitriy Bregeda led the men's race after the 6.88 kilometre run, but his team-mate Evgenii Evgrafov took command after the 12.5km bike course.

He rode superbly over the snow to finish two minutes in front of the chasing group going into the 10.32km ski.

The Russians showed their class at the transition as their athletes changed to their skis around 15 seconds quicker than the rest of the field.

Andreev forced his way to the front to win in 1 hour 22min 51sec as Evgrafov was forced into silver in 1:23:03.

Pavel Yakimov won bronze for Russia in 1:23:14 but Bregeda missed out on a medal in fourth.

Rogozina and team-mates Yulia Surikova and Svetlana Sokolova left the field behind during the women's run with all three also pushing together during the bike leg.

This meant the race would be settled on the skis, and Rogozina pushed to the head of the pack to triumph in 1:34:27.

Surikova clocked 1:35:04 in second place and Sokolova won bronze in 1:37:41.

Focus now turns to this year's World Championships in Asiago in Italy, on February 8 and 9.