Twelve months ago, Lizzie Deignan made a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful run at the World Championships in her native Yorkshire. A year later, she is preparing to fight for the rainbow jersey for a second time in Imola, Italy.

It certainly won't be easy. While the Dutch are once again the favorites to win, the women's road race has more riders on the start list than ever before. However, Dignan expects the British team to increase its numbers in the second half of Saturday's race, and expects the race to be decided in the final three laps.

"I think what will be different for us is to get as many women as possible in the final," he said. Both Lizzie Banks and Hannah Barnes were really good in the Giro. [Hannah in particular, who was working for Cassia, was clearly strong in the Giro. Of course, Lizzie burst onto the scene with these results down the stretch and is a pleasure to race with, very positive on and off the bike. Of course, Lizzie has come on to the scene with results like this in the Giro, she is very positive on and off the bike and is a pleasure to race with.

"I think last year I rode under a lot of pressure. I wasn't very tactically smart. I spent too much time up front chasing Annemiek van Fruten. I should have stayed in the wheels more. I don't feel the race is on my shoulders this year. I can duck and dive and get the best possible result."

Since the race resumed in August, Degnan has been spectacular. He won the Plouët GP in a two-up sprint with Banks, and then scored a thrilling victory at La Course in the Tour de France in Nice. Almost superdomestique in the Giro Rosa, he won the team time trial for Trek-Segafredo and finished in the top 10 twice more. In terms of results, she is not far off her 2015 form, when she finished fourth in La Course, won in Plouay, and won the world title in Richmond in one of the best women's races of the past decade.

"I ran as a support for Elisa Longo Borghini in the Giro, so I did my job and had an easy day to the finish.

The rerouting of this year's UCI Road World Championships from Switzerland to Imola could also work to her advantage.

"Switzerland was too mountainous, simply because it was a course for climbers.

"It's kind of weird to have all these people here telling me that I'm really suited for it, because until two weeks ago I didn't even think about the World Championships because I didn't even think about it until two weeks ago."

As for the course, Dignan said, "I haven't seen it yet. （I'll go around [on Friday], but it feels completely different than a normal World Championship. Usually at a World Championships, you know all the inclines, you know everything about the course, and you've prepared perfectly in training. This time it's like a different kind of bike race."

While Dignan will start as the star of the team, Banks may also play an important role in the outcome of the race. He has won a stage at the Giro Rosa for the second year in a row and continues his tremendous upward trend in racing.

"I just came back from the Giro Rosa and I think I showed pretty good form there. I'm climbing better than I've ever climbed in my life. While crashing on the last day of the Giro was not ideal, and I am always a little stiff after a crash, I think the timing of the road race and time trial is perfect for getting super recovered after a hard race like the Giro," Banks said.

Banks also believes that sharing responsibility with Deignan would be a wise tactic on such a tough course.

"Lizzie and I are very similar riders. We have a really strong team and she is easy to work with. The fact that our characteristics are so similar puts us in a very good position in this race. It will also make it more challenging for our competitors. I am confident that our coach will have a great plan for us on the day," Banks said.

"She is a proven winner and has won this race before. She knows what it takes and whatever happens, I will give my all for the GB team. The course here suits the British Cycling riders very well. I sent a message to Lizzie and told her this is the perfect course for us. I really believe we can achieve something here. The Dutch are always difficult, but I think this is a great course for us."