cyclo-cross

American

[sahy-kloh-kraws, -kros] / ˈsaɪ kloʊˌkrɔs, -ˌkrɒs /

noun

a bicycle race over a cross-country course, featuring steep hills, turns, and sometimes muddy terrain, that occasionally requires a rider to carry the bicycle over fences and up stairs.

cyclo-cross British

noun

1. a form of cycle race held over rough ground
2. this sport

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cyclo-cross

1950–55; cycle + -o- + cross(-country) ( def. ); cf. motocross

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

cyclo-cross

Van der Poel bettered the record of seven world titles originally set by Belgian Eric De Vlaeminck, a cyclo-cross star of the 1960s and 70s.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

Despite his success on the road, cyclo-cross is his favourite discipline.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

Dutch cycling giant Mathieu van der Poel won a record eighth world cyclo-cross title at Hulst in the Netherlands on Sunday.

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

This image by AFP's Jasper Jacobs from the Badkamers Trophy cyclo-cross event in Belgium is beautifully composed, perfectly splitting the frame between the competitors and spectators to highlight the contrasting elements of the race.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2024

He lobbied the Costa Rican federation to put him in for the event, even though there was no history of cyclo-cross in the country.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023