All of the individual time trial events in Richmond, bar the men’s elite race, are taking place on a largely flat but very technical 15km circuit.

The total elevation is just 96m and that comes in the form of a 300m drag up Governor Street at the start of the final kilometre and a false flat to the finish. A couple of sharp turns will sharpen each rider’s focus as the women complete two laps of the circuit on which Germany’s Lisa Brennauer will roll out as defending champion.

Lucy Coldwell, national champion Hayley Simmonds and runner-up Molly Weaver are the British hopefuls – only two will race – but it is Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) and Linda Villumsen (New Zealand) who represent the biggest threats to Brennauer’s hopes of repeating last year’s victory.

American champion Kristin Armstrong is another possible contender, while in-form Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) was head and shoulders above her rivals in winning on the 21.7km course at the Giro d’Italia Femminile – albeit on a route with much more climbing.