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

The role of a domestique is to ride in service of others: to deliver the stars to the finish line in the best condition and position to sparkle.

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

Chris Froome has been something of a development project, rising from obscurity in his African homeland to super domestique in Europe, twice finishing second in grand tours but never winning.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2013

Just as the Duke was raising his gun, thinking that if it was not a boar it was something else, I ventured a gentle whisper, "C'est votre domestique, Monseigneur."

From In the Courts of Memory, 1858 1875; from Contemporary Letters by Hegermann-Lindencrone, L. de (Lillie de)