Kjeld Nuis will hope to defend his men's World Cup title ©Getty Images

Dutch star Kjeld Nuis and the United States’ Heather Bergsma will begin the defence of the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup titles at the opening event of the season in Heerenveen.

Competition at the Thialf Ice Arena will carry additional importance, with the first four World Cups helping to determine the qualifiers for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

A total of 100 men and 80 women will qualify for the Games, which are due to take place from February 9 to 25.

Having won the overall men’s World Cup title last year, Nuis will be expected to feature heavily in front of a home crowd.

He is due to compete in the men’s 1000 metres and team sprint competitions over the three-day competition.

Russia’s Pavel Kulizhnikov will prove one of the athletes to beat in the sprint disciplines, although Dutch skater Jan Smeekens is the reigning world champion in the 500m discipline.

He earned his maiden world title at the Gangneung Olympic Oval last season and will hope to repeat the feat at the venue, when it hosts Olympic action.

His compatriot Sven Kramer, a three-time Olympic champion, will contest the 5,000m this weekend.

Kramer’s biggest rival is expected to be fellow Dutchman Jorrit Bergsma, who he beat to the national title last month.

Heather Bergsma, who is married to Jorrit, will compete in the women’s 500m, 1000m and 1500m events.

Her busy schedule will be replicated by long-term team-mate and rival Brittany Bowe.

Heather Bergsma will race in the women's sprint events across the three day World Cup ©Getty Images
Heather Bergsma will race in the women's sprint events across the three day World Cup ©Getty Images

Bowe missed the majority of last season after suffering from concussion, which occurred following a heavy crash.

Over the longer 3,000m distance, Dutch world champion Ireen Wüst is likely to continue her rivalry with Czech star Martina Sáblíková.

The latter has proved the more dominant skater over the 5,000m distance, but will be hoping to edge Wüst across the 3,000m distance.

The first men’s and women’s 500m races will take place tomorrow, along with the team pursuit events.

Action will continue with the 1500m and mass start competitions on Saturday (November 11), as well as the second 500m races.

Men’s and women’s 1000m events will take place on the final day of the World Cup, with women’s 3000m and men’s 5000m distances also being skated.

 The World Cup concludes with the men’s and women’s team sprints.