Frans De Mulder (17 December 1937 in Kruishoutem – 5 March 2001 in Deinze) was a professional road racing cyclist from Belgium between 1958 and 1963.
De Mulder is most famous for winning the overall title and four stages the 1960 Vuelta a España. He bested fellow countryman Armand Desmet and Spaniard Miguel Pacheco across 3566 km in 17 stages.
A medical examination in 1963 revealed that he had a shortage of red blood cells. After a six-month rest period, De Mulder no longer had the strength to return. At the age of just 26, he disappeared from the peloton.
After his cycling career, luck wasn't on his side. In a serious accident in the port of Antwerp, a heavy cable snapped and landed on him, paralyzing his arm. He died in 2001 from a heart attack at the age of just 63.
His brother Marcel De Mulder was also a professional cyclist.
Major results
<small>Source:</small>
1959
1st Stage 5a Tour de l'Ouest
3rd LiègeâÂÂBastogneâÂÂLiège
4th MilanâÂÂSan Remo
4th BrusselsâÂÂIngooigem
7th ParisâÂÂRoubaix
7th La Flèche Wallonne
1960
1st Road race, National Road Championships
1st Overall Vuelta a España
:1st Stages 4, 7, 16 & 17a
2nd GentâÂÂWevelgem
3rd Omloop van het Houtland
5th HarelbekeâÂÂAntwerpâÂÂHarelbeke
6th Tour of Flanders
6th Dwars door België
7th Overall Tour de Luxembourg
:1st Stage 4
7th MilanâÂÂSan Remo
7th KuurneâÂÂBrusselsâÂÂKuurne
10th BrusselsâÂÂIngooigem
1961
1st Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
8th KuurneâÂÂBrusselsâÂÂKuurne
1962
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
:1st Points classification
:1st Stage 7
3rd Overall Tour de Luxembourg
3rd HarelbekeâÂÂAntwerpâÂÂHarelbeke
4th Road race, National Road Championships
5th Omloop Het Volk
7th Overall Four Days of Dunkirk
9th KuurneâÂÂBrusselsâÂÂKuurne
9th De Kustpijl
1963
1st Nokere Koerse
3rd Overall Tour of Belgium
:1st Stage 3b (ITT)
5th De Kustpijl
8th GP Stad Zottegem
Grand Tour general classification results timeline
References
External links