The competition, which will take place tomorrow, comes amid months of political unrest throughout the nation, initially sparked by the decision of former President Viktor Yanukovych to refuse to sign an association agreement with the European Union (EU) in November.

A widespread movement then demanded closer ties with the EU and the ousting of Yankuovych, which was ultimately successful.

However, some people in largely eastern and southern Ukraine, the traditional bases of support for Yanukovych and his Party of the Regions, did not approve of the revolution, and began to protest in favour of closer ties with Russia, leading to the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

This European Triathlon Union (ETU) European Cup will, therefore, be a huge occasion for Ukraine as it gets set to welcome the triathletes.

"It is a very important race for the Federation," said Eduard Panarin, general secretary of the Ukrainian Triathlon Federation.

"We are 20 years old and it is about time we held an international European cup race.

"It is very important for our athletes, the Federation and the growth of the sport in this country."

Danylo Sapunov will be one of the favourites to win this inaugural Ukrainian European Cup in Dnepropetrovsk as he competes on home soil for the very first time in a major European event ©ITU/Getty Images



The race also marks the debut of the ETU Development High Performance Team.

This initiative was set up by the ETU Development Committee to give athletes originating from European countries, where triathlon is still in a development phase, support to experience International competition.

The main target of the ETU Development Committee is to bring as many European nationalities as possible to the start of the Olympic Games.

There will be six athletes from the High Performance Team competing in Dnepropetrovsk, three for both the men's and women's competition.

Serbia's Milan Tomin, Ali Atlan of Turkey and Belarus' Aleksandr Dakhno will feature in the elite men's race, while Turkey's Ipek Oztosun and Andrea Balan and Antonela Manac of Romania will participate in the elite women's race.

Ukrainian athletes will be eager to secure victory in this historic European Cup with the dynamic duo of Yegor Martynenko and Danylo Sapunov strong favourites in the elite men's race and former European number one Yuliya Yelistratova looking to impress in the women's contest.

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