The United Arab Emirates city will host the first leg of the ITU's flagship circuit from tomorrow, with the Spaniard back to defend his title.

Mola won four WTS events last season and is undefeated in Abu Dhabi.

However, he had to settle for eighth place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as Britain's Alistair Brownlee defended his gold medal by leading home his brother Jonathan.

Neither Brownlee sibling will be on the start-line in Abu Dhabi, although 27-year-old Mola will face competition from his compatriot Javier Gomez Noya.

The five-time WTS champion will make his return after an elbow injury ruled him out of Rio 2016 in August.

South Africa's Henri Schoeman, the Olympic bronze medallist, will also expect to challenge in Abu Dhabi.

In the women's competition, Bermuda's defending champion Flora Duffy will not be in action while American Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen will not compete this term as she is expecting a child in August.

Britain's reigning Abu Dhabi champion Jodie Stimpson will be one to watch, alongside Japan's Ai Ueda who was third in the WTS rankings last season.

In Jorgensen's absence, Katie Zaferes and Sarah True will spearhead the United States challenge with Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand another expected to challenge.

The elite women's race will kick-start the action tomorrow, before the men compete on Saturday (March 4).

Seven legs of the WTS will be held before the Grand Final in Dutch city Rotterdam between September 14 and 17, where the world champions will be crowned.

The circuit will visit Gold Coast, Yokohama, Leeds, Hamburg, Edmonton, Montreal and Stockholm.

Last month, the ITU announced its biggest ever prize money pool for the 2017 season.

Nearly $2.5 million (£2 million/€2.3 million) will be up for grabs in the WTS.