domestique

American  

[doh-mes-teek] / ˌdoʊ mɛsˈtik /

noun

1. Cycling. a member of a bicycle-racing team who assists the leader, as by setting a pace, preventing breakaways by other teams, or supplying food during a race.

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Etymology

Origin of domestique

1980–85; < French: literally, domestic

Example Sentences

Saturday's race came down to a front group of 12 and Wollaston, who had two FDJ-United Suez teammates in support, including Dutch domestique Amber Kraak, timed her finishing sprint to perfection.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

"I wanted to be a domestique," he says.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2024

The duo was later joined by Vingegaard domestique Sepp Kuss, who positioned himself at the front to guide his leader.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2022

As a domestique, which is a team’s worker bee, he had the job last week of picking up filled water bottles from the team car and distributing them among his teammates.

From New York Times • Apr. 14, 2021

Or this:"—et lui, mon mari apres tout se fit mon marim domestique."

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington