Francisco Cepeda (cyclist)

Francisco Cepeda (1906 – October 14, 1935) was a Spanish cyclist. He is notable for being the first cyclist to die during the Tour de France.

Cepeda participated in the 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1935 Tour de France races. His best overall finish was 9th place in 1930.

During the seventh stage of the 1935 Tour de France, while descending the Col du Galibier, Cepeda crashed and sustained severe head injuries. He was transported to Grenoble hospital, where he died several hours later. The exact cause of the crash is debated, with theories ranging from poor road conditions to mechanical failure. His death cast a pall over the remainder of the race and led to increased safety concerns for cyclists in the Tour de France.