Crossword Genius

From Scandinavia once Spanish chap, cycling (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

norse

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'from scandinavia' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'spanish chap cycling' is the wordplay.
'spanish' becomes 'es' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'chap' becomes 'ron' (short for Ronald).
'cycling' says the letters should be written backwards (letters cycle back).
'es'+'ron'='esron'
'esron' reversed gives 'NORSE'.

'once' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for norse that I've seen before include "Snore (anag)" , "Northern European" , "Relating to ancient Scandinavia" , "Family of Germanic languages spoken in Scandinavia and Iceland" , "These men were Vikings" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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