Although Italian Stefano Zanini is not racing in Leeds, Museeuw is still under pressure in this 232-kilometre race.
Another pointless race, and victory for Ukrainian Alex Gontchenkov or Italian Fabio Baldato, and the Belgian could face a protracted battle to wrap up a second World Cup before the 11th and final race in Japan.
That is still 10 weeks away, and after a season which opened in February, Museeuw is looking for another big win to add to his triumph in the Paris-Roubaix, April's classic over the cobbles.
He has been in the top two placings for the last three World Cup series, and after missing out in the Olympic road race, his other 1996 target, Museeuw is out to ensure that the Cup does not slip away.
Tour de France winner, Bjarne Riis, of Denmark, is in the line-up of 16 teams but is not a contender for the Cup series.
Last year's winner, Anglo-Italian Max Sciandri, bronze medallist in the Olympic road race, and the Danish silver medal- winner Rolf Sorensen, are more likely to score over the tough route through Yorkshire.
Although the Cup series is restricted to the top 25 teams, the world governing body has given a dispensation for a British team to start.
Apart from Sciandri, Britain have their Olympic bronze medallist Chris Boardman in the field, but his current focus is on the world track championships in Manchester from August 28.