The world’s elite cyclocross racers take to German soil this weekend for the fifth round of the Telenet UCI cyclocross World Cup, and then held to Belgium for the third race in the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee series (streaming live on FloBikes starting at 6:35 AM CST).

As we approach the mid-point of the cyclocross season, here's what to expect.

Van der Poel and Cant Arrive As Favorites In Zeven

Mathieu van der Poel has left little room for doubt that he is currently in a league of his own. He has won all four World Cups thus far this season, building up a substantial 100-point series lead ahead of World Champion Wout Van Aert.

The rainbow jersey is proving to be less of a burden for Sanne Cant. She currently leads the women’s UCI World Cup standings following her second win of the series last weekend in Bogense.

Let There Be Mud 

The 2016 edition of Zeven was a straightforward affair — a fast, twisty course on a grass field, which Mathieu van der Poel handily won. However, rain has been lingering over Zeven in the days leading up to the race, and a chance of rain persists on race day. It will not take much moisture to turn the field into a mud pit.

Will the relentless pace of Van der Poel be reigned in by the mud? Or, as in the slop-fest at Superprestige Gavere, will Van der Poel be felled by late race mechanicals?

Can Kaitie Keough Find The Top Step? 

American Kaitie Keough has put together a strong World Cup campaign this year. She currently sits fifth in the overall standings, having been on the podium in three of the four World Cup races thus far. 

In Bogense, we saw Keough secure a podium by riding a smart race tactically. On the wind-whipped course, she drafted taller riders like Ellen van Loy and out-sprinted Eva Lechner in the home straight. If she’s able to stay near Cant at the start, Keough could be knocking on the door of a big European win.

Toon Aerts Could Be Belgium’s Best Hope 

The 24-year-old former European Champion was the only rider able to keep pace with Van der Poel last weekend in Bogense, that is until a mid-race bike change for Aerts allowed Van der Poel enough of a gap to ride clear to victory. Aerts was on promising form last year until a fractured clavicle ended his season. His efforts in Bogense last weekend earned him his first World Cup podium. Is it a sign that he is returning to winning form?

DVV Races Have Been Wide Open

From Zeven, the racers will have a 500-kilometer transfer to Hamme, Belgium, where the DVV series returns for its third round on Sunday. The race will stream live on FloBikes starting at 6:35 AM CST.

American champion Katie Compton has a dominant lead of one minute and four seconds over Briton Helen Wyman in this time-based series.

The margins in the men’s field are much more slim with Mathieu van der Poel leading compatriot Lars van der Haar by 14 seconds and Belgian Toon Aerts by 21 seconds. Wout Van Aert sits in fourth overall, a full minute and a half behind Van der Poel.

Fast, Challenging, Unpredictable 

The Flandriencross course is anything but straightforward. It's fast and demanding, featuring abruptly lumpy terrain and loose soil through a narrow, tree-lined circuit. With sparse opportunities for clean passing, viewers will be treated to scrappy close quarters cyclocross racing from start to finish. In 2016, Vincent Baestaens and Jens Adams were ejected after becoming entangled, and subsequently getting into a scuffle.

Baestaens vs J.Adams cross fighter! #Flandriencross #DVVtrofee pic.twitter.com/xeLsqgNhmF

— RondevanBet (@Rondevanbet) November 27, 2016

Is A Dutch Duel On Tap? 

The Flandriencross course promises a manic start as riders charge through the narrow course, lured by the added incentive of a time bonus sprint 1.5 laps into the race. Lars van der Haar is a notoriously punchy rider with a knack for securing hole shots. Sitting in second place, Van Der Haar stands to gain the most by beating his fellow countryman to the early sprint.

Every Second Counts 

While some of Van der Poel’s victories this season have looked nearly effortless, the time-based DVV Series discourages distanced riders from sitting up and settling for minor places. Flandriencross is only the third of eight rounds of the DVV Series, so Van der Poel will have to fight that much harder for every second on Sunday. 

Katie Compton and Helen Wyman have emerged as the two clear contenders for the women’s title. Although Compton has a comfortable lead, she skipped the World Cup in Bogense with an illness. We’ll see on Sunday if she’s recovered in time to defend her lead in the DVV series.

By Michael Sheehan