Vendula Frintova leads the women's field in Madrid tomorrow ©Getty Images

After eight years away, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup will return to the Spanish capital of Madrid tomorrow.

First appearing on the tournament's calendar in 2003, Madrid hosted a World Cup event every year until 2008.

It then became a regular stop on the World Triathlon Series from 2009 to 2013.

Athletes will swim in the Casa de Campo lake for two laps of 750 metres each before cycling five kilometres in the same park.

They will then run six laps round a tough circuit in the city.

Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic leads the way in the women's category.

She has finished in the top 15 in three World Triathlon Series events this season.

The United States also have a strong contingent in the Spanish capital with Taylor Spivey, Erin Dolan and Kaitlin Donner all capable of challenging for medals.

Spivey just missed the podium in New Plymouth earlier this season by finishing fourth while Donner is the only American women racing to have made it onto a World Cup podium.

That was in 2015 in New Plymouth.

Kristian Blummenfelt is one of the favourites in the men's competition ©Getty Images
Kristian Blummenfelt is one of the favourites in the men's competition ©Getty Images

Other contenders to watch are Great Britain’s India Lee and Audrey Merle of France.

Lee won the Cagliari World Cup last year before winning the European Triathlon Union European Championships gold medal.

She will be making her first appearance of the season this weekend.

Merle was the 2015 under-23 World Champion before finishing 35th at Rio 2016.

In the men's event, Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt will be among the favourites. 

He enjoyed a breakthrough season last year when he won his first two-career World Cup events and also made it onto his first World Triathlon Series podium.

Blummenfelt also claimed bronze in the World Triathlon Series event in Yokohama two weeks ago.

French duo Pierre Le Corre and Dorina Coninx have both tasted World Cup success before while Ryan Sissons took bronze in New Plymouth earlier this campaign.

Other competitors in the field who have won medals at previous World Cup events include Wian Sullwald of South Africa, American Kevin McDowell, Drew Box of Australia and Mexico's Rodrigo Gonzalez. 

The women's race will get action underway at 10.55am local time tomorrow before the men's event follows at 1.15pm.