Seirin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will miss Sunday's UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 12 in Sonnenhofen due to severe back pain.

Alvarado has been consistent in 10 of the 14 rounds and currently leads the overall World Cup series. She will miss Round 6 in Flamanville and has made it clear that she will not compete in Sonnhofen either.

"Today in Gurlegem I suffered from terrible back pain again," she said. I could barely run in the mud, let alone put any effort into the pedals."

Alvarado lined up to compete in Saturday's Hexia Cross Gurregem, which Zoe Backstedt won, but was forced to abandon mid-race due to pain.

In a post on Alvarado's Instagram page, Alpecin Deceuninck said that the medical staff and team management agreed and decided not to take any risks by competing in the Sonnhofen World Cup the following day.

Alvarado is now looking at competing in the Dutch National Championships in Hogeveen next weekend.

"It's a shame, because in Sonnen I could have taken a good step towards the overall World Cup title. But now it's more important to go to the osteopath. It will take me a few days to fully recover," Alvarado said.

Alvarado has won three World Cup Series races in Dendermonde, Troyes, and Namur. She currently leads the series with 312 points, with Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) in second place with 237 points and Puck. Peeters (Phoenix Deceuninck) has 220 points.

The World Cup continues in Sonnhofen on Sunday, with round 13 in Benidorm on the 21st and round 14 in Hogelheid on the 28th.