World cyclocross champion Sanne Canto (IKO-Crelan) will not start Friday's Koppenbergcross, the first round of the Belgian cyclocross series DVV Trofee, due to a back injury, the Belgian press reported.

Kant fell during warm-ups for the third round of the Superprestige Series in Gavere last Sunday and injured his sacrum (a bone at the base of the spine that connects to the tailbone).

Leading after two rounds in the cyclocross series, the 29-year-old still competed in the race, but could only finish 14th, dropping her to 5th in the overall standings.

According to nieuwsblad.be, doctors attempted to fix Kant's displaced sacrum but told her she would not be ready for the Koppenberg Cross race in Oudenaarde, Belgium, on Friday.

Last year's winner, Kim Van de Steen (Tarteletto Isorex), will be joined by current Superprestige leader Yara Castellane, her 777 teammate Annemarie Worst, and American cyclocross champion Katie Compton (KFC Racing), among others, to defend her title.

In the men's Coppencross race, Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), the most successful rider of the year, will be up against Telenet Baloise Lions rival Corne Van Kessel, defending champion Toon Aerts, and men's superprestige leader Lars Van der Haar.

Meanwhile, Corendon Circus star Mathieu Van der Pol will return to the discipline on Sunday in the fourth round of the Superprestige series in Rudervoorde.