Mathieu van der Poel will hope to continue his fine start to the season ©Getty Images

Mathieu van der Poel will seek to strengthen his position at the top of the men’s International Cycling Union (UCI) Cyclo-cross World Cup standings when competition resumes in Zeven tomorrow.

The German race returned to the World Cup calendar last year, following a 12-year break from hosting an event.

Van der Poel heads into the race on top of the overall men's standings, with the Dutch European champion having triumphed at the opening four races.

The Boeban-Corendon rider has a total of 2,648 points at the top of the standings, with Belgium's world champion Wout Van Aert second on 2,372.

European champion Sanne Cant will seek further success in the women’s event, fresh from her victory at Bogense in Denmark last weekend.

It was her second triumph of the season, having won at Waterloo in the United States.

The Belgian boasts a tally of 2,530 points after the first four races, with Czech rider Katerina Nash second on 1,630.

Sanne Cant will target a third win of the season in Zeven ©Getty Images
Sanne Cant will target a third win of the season in Zeven ©Getty Images

The World Cup leaders will have happy memories of last year’s races in Zeven, with van der Poel and Cant having both triumphed in 2016.

Following the event in the German town, the World Cup season will then move to Belgium for back-to-back races.

Namur will host competition on December 17, with Heusden-Zolder following on December 26.

Nommay in France will host the penultimate World Cup of the season on January 21, with the final race taking place a week later at Hoogerheide in The Netherlands.