Former Belgian professional cyclist Frans Melckenbeeck passed away on 28 October 2025. He would have celebrated his 85th birthday on 15 November 2025. Born in Lede, East Flanders, Belgium (15 November 1940), his career made him one of the notable riders of the 1960s peloton.

Melckenbeeck’s most celebrated triumph came in 1963, when he claimed victory in the Monumental classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège, beating fellow Belgian Pino Cerami and Italian Vittorio Adorni in a sprint. That same year he also secured a stage win in the Tour de France (Stage 4) riding for the Mercier team alongside that year’s overall winner Raymond Poulidor.

In 1964 he added further major wins: including the Omloop Het Volk (now Omloop Het Nieuwsblad) and a stage victory in Paris–Nice. Melckenbeeck would also go on to win four Vuelta a Espana stages between 1964 and 1965. Across his career he amassed an impressive total of 240 victories, of which 64 were achieved as a professional — a reflection of his versatility and consistency.

Before turning professional, Melckenbeeck represented Belgium at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, competing in the team pursuit on the track. He also enjoyed success on the track and in amateur rankings: for example, in 1961 he achieved 36 victories in that single season and was recognised as a leading amateur in Belgium.

It was thanks to this impressive feat that Melckenbeeck attracted the interest of professional teams and eventually spent 10 season competing internationally before retiring in 1972. 

In recognition of his contributions, the municipality of Lede granted him honorary citizenship in 2018. Also, the annual cycling event known as the Grote Prijs Frans Melckenbeeck (Grand Prix Frans Melckenbeeck) in Lede bears his name. A biography titled “Frans Melckenbeeck, Flandrien from the Stillekes Years” is due to be published in early November as a tribute to his career.