The 2014 world time trial champion earned one stage win and two second place finishes across the five stages of last year’s race to claim the general classification over Belgium’s Jolien D'Hoore by six seconds.

Brennauer, whose stage win came on stage four, has pinpointed the same stage on this year’s Women’s Tour as a potentially decisive day in the race, due to several climbs featuring on the 119km route from Nottingham to Stoke-on-Trent.

“In this stage most of the climbs are towards the end of the stage, but importantly you've already had some long and hard stages in the tour.

“Stage three is up and down all day and the peloton will be in different shape by stage four.

“Our team is looking forward to this race.

“It's so nice that all of the towns, communities and schools are involved so much in the tour, it creates a special atmosphere and every rider enjoys being here.”

Brennauer will be supported by her team-mate Hannah Barnes, who won the final stage of last year’s race and is one of 17 British riders in the field.

Lizzie Armitstead will the focus of the home crowd’s attention, with the world champion looking to earn her fourth International Cycling Union (UCI) Women’s WorldTour race of the season, having triumphed at Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda and the Tour of Flanders.

The British star, who is one of the favourites for Olympic road race gold at Rio 2016, currently lies third in the WorldTour rankings behind her American Boels-Dolmans team-mate Megan Guarnier.

After winning the last two WorldTour races, the Tour of California and the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, Guarnier will not be competing in Britain.

The third edition of the Women's Tour will conclude in Kettering on June 19.