Frans Claes
- mountainbiker -
#veganpower
FRans Claes
Marathon Mountainbike Rider
Member of ECO Mountainbike Team
Based in Leuven (Belgium) & Gunten (Switzerland)
Born in 1983
Plant-based athlete | Racing since age 25
career highlights
One-Day Events
Belgian Champion (2015, 2016, 2022)
UCI Marathon World Series La Paterna (ESP) (2017) · UCI Marathon World Series Meda (POR) (2019)
UCI HC Roc Laissagais (2025) · UCI C2 Belgian Bike Festival (2025) · UCI C1 M3 Montafon (2023) ……
Stage Races
8× Cape Epic Finisher (2017–2025)
Trans-Wales (2008) · Trans-Portugal (2009) · Trans-Maurienne (2012)
Copa Internacional do Brasil (2013) · Breck Epic (2015)
Algarve Bike Challenge (2017) · Ischgl Iron Bike (2018)
Simonsberg Contour (2019) · PE2PLETT (2019)
Rwandan Epic (2022) · Belgian Mountainbike Challenge (2023)
Roc Trophy (2025)
Overall Titles
Overall Winner – UCI Marathon World Series (2017)
Overall Winner – Alpine Cup (2025)
Dreams
UCI Marathon World Champion
Cape Epic Overall Winner
My bike
"I choose the components and the nutrition which I believe
they can help me in achieving the highest results"
My choices:
Frame: Orbea Oiz Carbon OMX, Fiberlink, Boost, BSA, SIC, UFO, I-line shock
Suspension: Fox SC34 120mm
Shock: Fox Float SL Factory 120mm
Handlebar: Gelu
Handles: Esi Grips
Dropper post: Fox Transfer SL Factory Kashima Dropper 31.6
Saddle: Gelu A.1
Brakes: Shimano XTR 9200 Hydraulic Disc
Gearsystem: Shimano XTR-M9250 Di2, 1x12
Charinring: Shimano 36T
Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30LTD
Tires: Schwalbe 2.35 - 2.40
Sealant: Orange Seal
Wax: Squirt hot wax
Pedals: Crankbrothers
Bearings: Not specified
Plug: Sahmurai Sword
Tools: Crankbrothers
Power meter: 4ii
Handlebar: OC Mountain Performance MP10 Carbon, Cockpit, Width 760
MY NUTRTION
Thanks to MNSTRY for providing the necessary energy during the Cape Epic - the Tour de France of mountain biking!
Title sponsors
shirt sponsors
SUPPORT sponsors
Vegan athlete?
Why did you change your diet to vegan? Do you have enough proteins to do sports at the highest level? Whats the most difficult part of being vegan? In the interviews below I try to answer these and many more questions about the vegan lifestyle.
STUDIO PLANTAARDIG PODCAST
Dat je gezond kan zijn met een louter plantaardig dieet, dat weten we inmiddels. Maar kun je ook topprestaties neerzetten? Of geeft plantaardig eten je zelfs een voordeel als topsporter?
Daar ga ik (Esther Molenwijk) over in gesprek met Frans Claes en Janneke van der Meulen.
Vegan & Topsport - Interview by the 'Artevelde Hogeschool' in Gent
L'explication en français pour le 'vegan challenge' de newsmonkey.be & Fanny
