The 1961 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships were held in Hanover, West Germany on Sunday February 19, 1961. It was the 12th edition of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
In spring-like weather, 20,000 spectators watched the action. Rolf Wolfshohl pulled away from his competitors in the first lap and built up a lead of up to half a minute over his closest pursuers, Renato Longo and Maurice Gandolfo. He would stay in the lead and win his second world title in a row, this time in front of a home crowd.