Defending champion Lizzie Deignan is among the favourites for victory at the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour, which is scheduled to begin in the English county of Northamptonshire tomorrow ©Getty Images

Defending champion Lizzie Deignan is among the favourites for victory at the 2017 Women’s Tour, which is scheduled to begin in the English county of Northamptonshire tomorrow.

Deignan is joined on the start list for the five-stage race by Boels-Dolmans team-mate Anna van der Breggen, who currently leads the International Cycling Union (UCI) Women's WorldTour standings.

Germany's Lisa Brennauer of Canyon-SRAM and Van der Breggen's fellow Dutchwoman Marianne Vos of WM3 Pro Cycling, the winners of the two previous editions in 2015 and 2014 respectively, are also expected to compete. 

Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling will be represented by last year's runner-up Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio of South Africa and Denmark's Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the current leading youth rider in the UCI Women's WorldTour.

Eight of the field have Olympic medals to their name, including Rio 2016 champions Katie Archibald of Great Britain and Van der Breggen.

Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini and Belgium's Jolien D'Hoore, both of Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling, were bronze medallists at last year's Games and are also likely to be in contention. 

"This is an incredible line-up of the very best athletes in the world," race director Mick Bennett told the event's official website.

"The line-up for the OVO Energy Women's Tour is exceptional and fans can now look forward to watching five days of action-packed, exciting racing as these riders battle for the OVO Energy green jersey.

"With such a depth of high-quality riders, it is very hard to predict a likely winner."

Anna van der Breggen, the current leader of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, is expected to be in contention for victory ©Getty Images
Anna van der Breggen, the current leader of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, is expected to be in contention for victory ©Getty Images

Tomorrow’s opening stage is a 147.5-kilometres route between Daventry and Kettering.

The 144.5km second stage starts and finishes in Stoke-on-Trent, while the 151km third begins in Atherstone and ends in Royal Leamington Spa.

Chesterfield plays host to the 123km penultimate stage before the event reaches its climax on Sunday (June 11) with a 62km stage that starts and finishes on Regent Street in London.

"In addition to our three former champions we have eight stage winners from previous editions of the race, so it really will go down to the wire with our final stage at the heart of London on June 11," Bennett added. 

The Women’s Tour is a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, which is made up of 20 events around the world in 10 different countries.