Nicolas Frantz facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
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| Full name | Nicolas Frantz | ||
| Nickname | Le Teinturier (The Dyer) | ||
| Born | 4 November 1899 Mamer, Luxembourg |
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| Died | 8 November 1985 (aged 86) Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
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| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Nicolas Frantz (born November 4, 1899 – died November 8, 1985) was a famous Luxembourgish bicycle racer. He won 60 professional races during his 12-year career, which lasted from 1923 to 1934. He is best known for winning the Tour de France twice, in 1927 and 1928.
Contents
Early Life and His Start in Cycling
Nicolas Frantz grew up in a family that owned a successful farm. Even though he could have taken over the farm, he wasn't interested in farming. He loved bicycles instead!
In 1914, when he was just 14 years old, Nicolas rode in his first bike race. He won it! This victory helped him decide that cycling was his true passion, not farming. He quickly became one of the best cyclists in Luxembourg before World War I began.
Becoming a Professional Rider
Nicolas Frantz was a strong and well-built man, weighing about 80 kilograms (around 176 pounds). He became a professional cyclist in 1923. He found success right away, winning races like Paris-Lyon.
His biggest strength in long stage races was that he stayed healthy and fit. This helped him keep going when other riders got tired.
Racing in the Tour de France
Nicolas Frantz first rode in the Tour de France in 1924. He won two stages and finished second overall. He was only about 35 minutes behind the winner, Ottavio Bottecchia.
In the next two Tours, in 1925 and 1926, he won four more stages. He finished fourth in 1925 and second again in 1926. He was getting closer to the top!
Winning the Tour de France Twice
Nicolas Frantz truly shined in 1927 and 1928, when he won the Tour de France two years in a row.
In the 1927 Tour de France, he won three stages. He started one stage far behind the leader, but he rode so well that he finished the day wearing the yellow jersey! This jersey is worn by the overall leader of the race. He ended up winning the Tour by a huge margin, almost two hours ahead of the second-place rider.
The 1928 Tour de France was even more amazing. Nicolas Frantz wore the yellow jersey from the very first day until the last day. This is a very rare achievement in the Tour de France! During this race, something incredible happened. In the 19th stage, his bicycle frame broke when he was riding over train tracks. He still had 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) left to go!
He quickly borrowed a small women's bicycle to keep riding. His teammates from the Alcyon team helped him get back into the race. Soon, he got another Alcyon bike, and he rode it all the way to victory in Paris. His teammates, Andre Leducq and Maurice De Waele, finished right behind him.
Later Tours and Retirement
In the 1929 Tour de France, Nicolas Frantz won two more stages. For a short time, he was one of three riders tied for the yellow jersey. However, a flat tire later in the race cost him his chance at another podium finish. He ended up finishing fifth overall.
He rode the Tour de France only one more time, in 1932, where he finished 45th.
After his racing career, Nicolas Frantz became a team manager. He managed the Luxembourg cycling teams in the Tour de France from 1949 to 1957. He was the first national team manager for the famous cyclist Charly Gaul.
Nicolas Frantz was a quiet man. He retired to his home village of Mamer and passed away there in 1985.
Major Achievements
Nicolas Frantz had a very successful career. Here are some of his key wins:
- He won the Tour de France twice (1927, 1928).
- He won 20 individual stages in the Tour de France between 1924 and 1929.
- He won the Luxembourgish National Road Race Championships 12 times in a row (1923-1934).
- He won the Paris–Tours race in 1929.
- He also won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships.
Images for kids
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The yellow jersey is worn by the leader of the Tour de France.
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1903 Maurice Garin · 1904 Henri Cornet · 1905 Louis Trousselier · 1906 René Pottier · 1907-1908 Lucien Petit-Breton · 1909 François Faber · 1910 Octave Lapize · 1911 Gustave Garrigou · 1912 Odile Defraye · 1913-1914 Philippe Thys · 1915-1918 World War I · 1919 Firmin Lambot · 1920 Philippe Thys · 1921 Léon Scieur · 1922 Firmin Lambot · 1923 Henri Pélissier · 1924-1925 Ottavio Bottecchia · 1926 Lucien Buysse · 1927-1928 Nicolas Frantz · 1929 Maurice De Waele · 1930 André Leducq · 1931 Antonin Magne · 1932 André Leducq · 1933 Georges Speicher · 1934 Antonin Magne · 1935 Romain Maes · 1936 Sylvère Maes · 1937 Roger Lapébie · 1938 Gino Bartali · 1939 Sylvère Maes · 1940-1946 World War II · 1947 Jean Robic · 1948 Gino Bartali · 1949 Fausto Coppi · 1950 Ferdinand Kübler · 1951 Hugo Koblet · 1952 Fausto Coppi · 1953-1955 Louison Bobet · 1956 Roger Walkowiak · 1957 Jacques Anquetil · 1958 Charly Gaul · 1959 Federico Bahamontes · 1960 Gastone Nencini · 1961-1964 Jacques Anquetil · 1965 Felice Gimondi · 1966 Lucien Aimar · 1967 Roger Pingeon · 1968 Jan Janssen · 1969-1972 Eddy Merckx · 1973 Luis Ocaña · 1974 Eddy Merckx · 1975 Bernard Thévenet · 1976 Lucien Van Impe · 1977 Bernard Thévenet · 1978-1979 Bernard Hinault · 1980 Joop Zoetemelk · 1981-1982 Bernard Hinault · 1983-1984 Laurent Fignon · 1985 Bernard Hinault · 1986 Greg LeMond · 1987 Stephen Roche · 1988 Pedro Delgado · 1989-1990 Greg LeMond · 1991-1995 Miguel Indurain · 1996 Bjarne Riis · 1997 Jan Ullrich · 1998 Marco Pantani · 1999-2005 Lance Armstrong, disqualified · 2006 Óscar Pereiro (Floyd Landis, disqualified) · 2007 Alberto Contador · 2008 Carlos Sastre · 2009–10 Alberto Contador · 2011 Cadel Evans · 2012 Bradley Wiggins · 2013 Chris Froome · 2014 Vincenzo Nibali |
See also
In Spanish: Nicolas Frantz para niños
