Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering heads into Saturday's UCI Road World Championship women's race in Montreal as the clear favourite, with national coach Laurens ten Dam building the entire Dutch squad around her as sole leader. The 180-kilometre course — featuring eight ascents of the Côte Camillien Houde (a 1.7-kilometre climb averaging 7.4% gradient) — suits Vollering's climbing strengths, and she underlined her form by posting the fastest-ever recorded time up the key climb during a reconnaissance ride. Despite being top favourite at each of the past two world championships only to fall short on both occasions, Vollering says her clear team mandate gives her confidence: "I can always give that little extra percentage."