The mixed relay event, making its debut at the European Championships, will get the five-day event started tomorrow with Thomas De Gendt leading the Belgian team and former European champion Elisa Longo Borghini representing Italy.

Home favourites Bauke Molemma and Ramon Sinkeldam will join Marianne Vos on the Dutch team.

The European Championships will see more than 850 riders contest the elite, junior and Under-23 titles.

European champion Matteo Trentin will line up alongside Italian team mate Viviani for the men's road race on Sunday (August 11) as he bids to defend his title.

Compatriot Marta Bastianelli will have to be at her best to defend her women's crown against the Dutch trio Vos, European Games winner Lorena Wiebes and multiple track cycling world champion Kirsten Wild.

Wild arrives at the event having been stripped of her victory in Sunday's (August 4) in the Prudential RideLondon Classique after she was disqualified for causing a crash.

Former European champions Ellen van Dijk from the Netherlands and Lisa Brennauer from Germany will also pose a threat.

Current hour record holder Victor Campenaerts of Belgium and Britain's Alex Dowsett are among the favourites to claim the time trial honours.

"The Netherlands has always been the cradle of cycling excellence and it is the ideal setting to host this historic edition of the Road European Championships," said European Cycling Union President Rocco Cattaneo.

The 115 kilometres women's road race will be held on Saturday (August 10), with the men's 172.6km race concluding the championships on Sunday.

Cattaneo added: "With the aim of making races even more spectacular and exciting for the general public and press, whose numbers and interest continue to grow, the distance of races will be reduced compared to the past and time-trial races will be raced on the same circuit for all categories. 

"We know that this will be extremely beneficial for the cycling movement and especially for such a large-scale event. 

"Our main objective is to reach even more fans, riders and others, especially thanks to the huge support of television that will broadcast live almost all of the Alkmaar Championships in this new format."