The six-day Women’s WorldTour race in The Netherlands features something to suit all types of riders, with a short prologue, long time-trial, two flat stages and two hilly stages likely to provide a test of riders all round skills.

Although the top three in the women’s world rankings are absent, numbers four to ten in the standings are present, headed by home riders Marianne Vos of Jumbo-Visma and Demi Vollering of Team SD Worx.

Four-times winner of the race Vos and Vollering lead the Dutch challenge in the absence of Annemiek Van Vleuten and Anna Van Der Breggen, who are skipping this year’s edition following the Olympic Games.

Women’s time trial silver medallist Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser, racing for Ale BTC Ljubljana, is the only medallist from the Tokyo 2020 road cycling competitions to feature in the 156-strong field, with riders representing 16 teams.

Defending Simac Ladies Tour champion Christine Majerus of Luxembourg, riding for SD Worx, returns to try and keep hold of the crown she won in 2019, after last year’s edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The race is scheduled to begin with a short 2.4 kilometre prologue in Ede tomorrow, and is due to end on Sunday (August 29) with a 149.4km stage on a circuit in Arnhem.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the public are being kept away from the riders, with boxes being created around the finish of each stage, where up to 750 spectators will be permitted.