The Dutch CCC-Liv rider will be hoping to capitalise on the absence of last year's runner-up Emilia Fahlin, sidelined due to injury, to earn a second consecutive victory at the event.

A total of 120 women will compete in the Tour, with no less than 11 national champions in a star-studded line-up.

The four-stage race begins with a 128 kilometres ride between Åsgårdstrand and Horten tomorrow.

Vos, a multiple road race world champion, stormed to victory by 22 seconds to win the 2018 edition from Fahlin, who represented Wiggle High5 at the time.

Team Sunweb rider Coryn Rivera completed the podium.

Swede Fahlin now rides for French outfit FDJ but suffered a head injury in a training crash in June and has taken time out to fully recover.

In her absence, Rivera will be seen as one of Vos' main threats in the race for the overall classification.

Also expected to feature in the medal shake-up on Sunday (August 25) are a trio of national champions in the Boels Dolmans team.

Karol-Ann Canuel of Canada, Amelie Dideriksen of Denmark and Luxembourg's Christine Majerus will all be on the start line in Åsgårdstrand.

Marta Bastianelli is the Italian champion and comes into the race in fine form after she won the Women’s World Tour Postnord Vårgårda West Sweden road race last week.

Ingrid Lorvik rides for Hitec Products and will lead the Norwegian charge for glory.