The 26-year-old was unsure how his day would pan out, given he had missed vital weeks of training since breaking his elbow.
But, after only two weeks' full training, Dodds showed his appetite for the sport with a strong display that only faded, understandably, in the final 200m of the run.
''I don't know what to think with fourth,'' Dodds said.
''I came in not expecting anything and just wanted to go out and get my race process sorted. Just off the podium but I am pretty happy, I guess.
''I dug in when I needed to and I never actually let go. The swim was ridiculous. I came out so far behind I thought my day was over, but you have to put that behind you and get to work.''
Dodds said conditions changed quickly through the morning, from overcast and mild at race start to blue skies and hot and humid conditions by midway through the bike.
''There were about six aid stations per lap, so I took on water every time.''
Dodds recovered from that poor swim to ride comfortably in a large lead group throughout, before moving his way through the field on the run, after exiting T2 with close to 30 runners in front of him.
South African Wian Sullwald (20) scored his first world cup win, holding off Kevin McDowell (US) and Aurelien Lebrun (France). All three posted career-best performances.
Simone Ackermann was the best of the New Zealand women, finishing eighth after an early run with the leaders.
The other Kiwi women did not fare so well. Anneke Jenkins missed the lead group out of the water and was 15th, Rebecca Clarke lost time on the run to finish 20th, and Fiona Crombie was effectively out of the reckoning after a poor swim and finished 29th.
Gillian Backhouse (Australia) cleared out on the run to win by 29sec from Jessica Broderick (US) and Claire Michel (Belgium).
