OTLEY'S Lizzie Deignan would be surprised if she were to retain her title in tomorrow's women's road race at the Road World Championships in Qatar.

Deignan, nee Armitstead, won the world title in Richmond, Virginia in September 2015, fulfilling a life-long ambition.

The 27-year-old, who won gold in the trade team time-trial with Boels-Dolmans last Sunday in Doha, has since had the honour of wearing the world champion's rainbow jersey for the year.

But she faced scrutiny prior to the Rio Olympics after successfully appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a ban for three missed drugs tests.

Armitstead had focused on the hilly Rio route, climbing the ascents near her Monaco home.

And the 134-kilometre Doha road race is a direct contrast as it is pan-flat, and is expected to finish in a bunch sprint.

She said: "If I went home with a world title from here I'd be first of all surprised, but also delighted.

"It's not a World Championships that I've prepared specifically for, but I think it's anybody's race here.

"I'm excited to have a go at it."

Deignan is an option for the eight-rider British team in the anticipated frantic finale, but one of her team-mates could surprise, too.

Dani King and Hannah Barnes have been known to mix it in the sprints, while the team is completed by Alice Barnes, Annasley Park, Laura Massey, Abby-Mae Parkinson and Eileen Roe.

Deignan, who married Team Sky's Philip Deignan in September, acknowledged that Britain have options on a course which concludes with seven 15.2km laps.

The former Prince Henry's Grammar School pupil added: "It's an interesting world championships course. I'd describe it more as a criterium than a road race.

"We have a young, dynamic team, with lots of talent. We have a lot of cards to play.

"I think we will have eight women in the depths of the race, which we've not really had before. This course offers us that opportunity."

Holland will have even more options, with Kirsten Wild, Anna van der Breggan and three-time world champion and London 2012 gold medallist Marianne Vos all contenders.

Belgian Jolien D'hoore, Giorgia Bronzini of Italy, Sweden's Emma Johansson and Chloe Hosking of Australia are also likely to be vying for victory.

The men's race takes place on Sunday's final day, with Mark Cavendish bidding for a second world title following his 2011 triumph in Copenhagen.