Christie, who was disqualified from all three of her races at Sochi 2014, comes into the competition as the defending champion in both the 500 and 1500 metres events.

Olympic 1500m gold medallist Jorien Ter Mors of The Netherlands, who won four titles at the 2014 European Championships in Dresden, Germany, is likely to provide the biggest threat to Christie.

The Dutchwoman will return to the European stage after opting to take a year out in 2015 to focus on her speed skating career.

Veronique Pierron of France, Germany’s Anna Seidel and Lara van Ruijven of The Netherlands will also be looking to claim podium finishes at the event, which concludes on Sunday (January 24).

The women’s relay is expected to be a straight battle between Russia, The Netherlands and Hungary.

Dutchman Sjinkie Knegt, reigning world overall and 3,000m world champion, headlines the men’s field and he will bid to retain his 1000m, 1500m and overall European crowns which he earned on home ice last year in Dordrecht.

His stiffest opposition will come from Semion Elistratov of Russia, Olympic gold medallist over 1500m and double European champion in 2014, while Hungary’s Sandor Liu Shaolin and Frenchman Sebastien Lepape will also fancy their chances of taking home a medal.

Defending champions Russia, The Netherlands and Hungary are the three favourites in the eagerly-anticipated relay race.

The event was originally supposed to be held in Moscow but it was revealed that the proposed venue, the Megasport Arena, would not be ready in time in September of last year.

It will now take place at the 12,000-seater Iceberg Skating Palace, which staged skating competitions at Sochi 2014.

Action begins tomorrow with the qualifying rounds in the men’s and women’s 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m.