The Swiss rider was victorious when the season got underway last week in Nové Město na Moravě.

He surged to the front of the race to claim a second straight win at the Czech venue, having won his world title there last year.

Schurter will look to hold off the challenge of France’s two-time Olympic champion Julien Absalon again tomorrow.

Absalon finished as the runner-up at last year’s race in Albstadt, behind Schurter, but will look to overhaul his rival tomorrow.

Several tough climbs will provide the field with a difficult challenge at the second World Cup event of the season.

Annika Langvad of Denmark will seek a second straight win in the women’s race, having won last week in the Czech Republic.

Langvad triumphed in Germany last year, when she ended clear of Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds and Catharine Pendrel of Canada.

The pair are likely to present Langvad’s biggest threat tomorrow.

Pendrel is the reigning World Cup champion, but suffered misfortune last week when her chain snapped to see her drop down the field.

The World Cup circuit will have a short beak after the event in Albstadt, with Vallnord in Andorra due to host the next cross country race in July.

Lenzerheide in Switzerland will host the fourth World Cup race, before Mont-Sainte-Anne in Canada hosts competition in August.

The World Cup will then conclude in Val di Sole, Italy, later that month.