Women’s individual time trial (Tuesday September 23 – 29.5km)

Great Britain have opted against entering any riders into the elite women’s individual time trial, with national champion – and a former owner of the rainbow skinsuit – Emma Pooley having retired after the Commonwealth Games.

Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) has been the proud owner of the world title for the past 12 months but will face stiff competition in Spain if she hopes to defend it over the 29.5km course.

A winner against the clock at the Boels Rental Ladies Tour, Van Dijk’s victory in Tiel stands alone in her year as world champion with Ukraine’s Hanna Solovey having beaten her at the Chrono Champenois earlier this month.

Last year’s silver medallist Linda Villumsen (New Zealand), who won Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow, also starts among the favourites in Ponferrada.

Villumsen also won against the clock at the Tour Cycliste Feminin International de l’Ardeche, on her way to the overall win, and will look to mark her move to UnitedHealthCare next year by pulling on a rainbow jersey for the first time.

American duo Carmen Small and Evelyn Stevens, the Pan-American Champion, will also be keen to replicate the form they showed in powering Specialized Lululemon to the world team time trial title on Sunday.