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Home , Boussu, Christian Prudhomme, Eddy Merckx, Henri Desgrange, Sprinter (cycling), Tour de France

PRESS KIT : A HISTORIC BIKE AND TOUR LOVING TERRITORY www.brusselsgranddepart.com

Belgium and , bicycles and Belgians: a love affair that has lasted for generations. Facts and figures The 2019 Grand Départ will more cast the spotlight on and the nation, its for the 2019 Grand sense of hospitality, its cultural and gastronomic assets, its legends and all its great cyclists who inspire enthusiasts and perpetuate the Départ: legend. – 106 th Tour de In all, the Grande Boucle has included the – 100th anniversary of the Jersey, Belgian territory no less than 47 times and has worn 111 times by been won 18 times by a Belgian racer. (the record still stands) – 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first victory – The Tour has passed through Brussels 10 times, with the 11th scheduled for 2019 – The previous Grand Départ in Brussels was in 1958, coinciding with the Exhibition Universelle and the inauguration of the Atomium – The last the Tour passed through Belgium was in 2017, in Liège and Verviers So it’s only natural to – The last time the Tour passed through nurture a sense of pride Brussels was in 2010 and infinite endearment towards the which has so often captured the imagination of enthusiasts! THE CENTENARY OF THE YELLOW JERSEY www.brusselsgranddepart.com

On 19 , during a stage of the 11th Tour de France, the founder and director of since its inception, the Tour that year, , created the legendary “Yellow Jersey” to match the 57 Belgian racers colours of the newspaper L’Auto, the Tour’s main sponsor at the time. It soon gained in popularity have worn it, no less among both racers and the public, sparking than 403 times! buzz and becoming a major source of attraction to the race. Ever since, the top-ranking racer has easily been spotted on the Grande Boucle among all the other racers.

All those who have had the privilege of wearing it, demonstrate respect and emotion, the sign of unconditional love for this trophy that the all-time cycling champion Eddy Merckx donned 111 times in the course of his career, setting a record that he still holds today.

In 2019, the bright yellow jersey will be celebrating its centenary! A legendary fabric from which dreams are woven, be they youngsters, amateurs or racers, an allegory for success... One of the greatest Belgian champions of all time, Eddy Merckx was born in 1945 in the small town Meensel-Kiezegem.

THE BIRTHPLACE OF A GREAT CHAMPION www.brusselsgranddepart.com

Eddy Merckx topped the Tour de France podium five times, each time deploying considerable flair and garnering respect from the spectators, organisers and other racers.

The 34 stages won in the races of the seven times he participated in the Tour speak for themselves. A particularly moving moment was when he won his first Yellow Jersey, in 1969 in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre near the family grocery shop.

The 2019 Grand Départ will thus be highly memorable: as well as the centenary of the famous jersey, cycling amateurs and others will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first Grande Boucle victory.

Over the course of his career, the “Cannibal” as he was nicknamed imposed his talent on all terrains and in all seasons, in a spirit of honesty and passion, the best of his temperament. THE GRAND DÉPART IS GEARING UP www.brusselsgranddepart.com

and several other champions handled deliveries on his having donned the Yellow bike after school for pocket “100 Jersey will be participating in money, building up some several events. muscle in the process. Locals DAYS” nicknamed him “Eddy Tour de > Arrival of the French France”. TO THE delegation at the Gare Exactly 50 years ago in 1969, Eddy Merckx won the Yellow du Midi Jersey for the first time in GRAND Woluwe-Saint-Pierre! “We At 9.17 am, the Thalys have strong historic ties with bringing the French Eddy Merckx!”, commented DÉPART delegation from Amaury Sport Benoît Cerexhe, mayor of Organisation (A.S.O.) and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. the international press will be To celebrate not only racing arriving at the Brussels-Midi The Square Eddy Merckx but also everyday cycling, railway station. will be fitted out by the town a host of sporting, cultural, Eddy Merckx and Christian council. A reproduction of artistic and educational Prudhomme will be there to the “Tribute to Eddy Merckx” activities and events will be greet them. by Belgian artist Stefaan De organised over the 100-day Croock, will be placed on a run-up to the Grand Départ The kick-off for this festive stele in blue stone. in various parts of Brussels. day will be a photo shoot with various personalities by the “The Cannibal” won 525 Our great capital will be Thalys train wagon decked races, with the corresponding decked out in Tour colours to out in Grand Départ and Tour trophies being concealed celebrate this huge popular de France colours, as great in this work. Cobble stones event! ambassadors of this grand ringing the stele have been event. engraved with the list. A festive weekend > Inauguration of > Other highlights the Square Eddy Merckx D-DAY – 100 ! From 2.00 and 6.00 pm, At 12.30 pm, this special the vintage cars will be convoy featuring vintage cars exhibited on Place des Palais THURSDAY will make its first halt at Place like a Guard of Honour. Then des Bouvreuils, in the Chant at 7.30 pm they will head for 28 MARCH d’Oiseau neighbourhood the central boulevards to give of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, to a splendid vintage touch to > Commencing be renamed “Square Eddy Place De Brouckère. Merckx”. countdown! At 6.00 pm, two UGC venues This green, peaceful will simultaneously screen an The run-up to 6 July, date of neighbourhood was where avant-première of the film “La the first stage of the Tour de the great cyclist spent his Grand-Messe” directed by France, kicks off on 28 March. childhood, from 1945 to 1973. Valéry Rosier, an amusing, Several symbolic moments Eddy was given his first benevolent documentary on will highlight this important day bike at the age of four and assiduous Grande Boucle to which the general public bought his first racing bike spectators. has been invited to mark the at 11. Jules, his father and start of the countdown. Eddy first fan, ran a grocery shop, Directors : Valéry Rosier Merckx, for which the young Merckx & Méryl Fortunat-Rossi. This moment heralds the True to Tour spirit, both Launch of a start for Place De Brouckère special exhibitions will be as the scene of festivities on admission free. commemorative coin a cycling theme, celebrating sport and sharing with a Opening times to be On the same day, the Belgian concert, events for the young communicated at a later date. Dutch and Royal Mints and young-at-heart, tight-rope will officially launch a new walking, food bikes etc. This Le Tour, L’EXPO Belgian coin worth €2.5, friendly “opening” ceremony specially minted in honour of will be attended by members 28 March to 14 July 2019 the 2019 Grand Départ. It is of local cycling associations, decorated with an athletic- their friends and families. This itinerant exhibition is looking coincard with the Tour updated yearly, retracing the de France official logo. This At 7.15 pm, , a festive history of the third biggest unique coin will be available procession will leave from sporting event worldwide and legal tender in Belgium Grand-Place and head for with short texts, pictures as from 28 March through Place De Brouckère. and emblematic footage, www.herdenkingsmunten.be examining various themes and At 7.30 pm, the “100 days” harnessing interactivity with the run-up to the Tour de France introduction of a touch table. will be officially celebrated with a symbolic moment In French, with translations in attended by Christian Dutch and English. Prudhomme, Eddy Merckx and other great champions in Venue : RWDM stadium Belgian cycling. Emotions are (rue Charles Malis 61, 1080 bound to run high! Molenbeek-Saint-Jean), a stone’s throw from the actual Afterward the Maison du Tour starting point for the first stage will officially be designated of the Tour de France (06.07). as the official Grand Départ information office and the third tourist information office in the Maillot Jaune, L’EXPO city centre. 28 March to 14 July 2019

> Also on 28 March, This year is the Yellow two official exhibitions on Jersey’s centenary! This exhibition pays tribute to the Tour de France will be the 15,059 racers having inaugurated in Brussels participated in the Tour and the 3,228 “Giants”. These modern, interactive exhibitions take visitors on In French, with translations in a ride through the history of Dutch and English. the Grande Boucle, reliving the exploits of our champion Venue : Espace Wallonie Eddy Merckx and admiring (rue du Marché aux Herbes, the many collection items on 25-27, 1000 Brussels). display. www.brusselsgranddepart.com FRIDAY 29 MARCH The party continues FRIDAY 17 MAY on Place De Brouckère the Tour dictation from 12.00 noon to 6.00 pm D-DAY - 50 TO GO 9-12 year-olds in schools in Only 50 days to go before Brussels, the Region and Throughout the weekend, the all the towns that the Tour the first stage of the de France celebrations Départ! will pass through, will take will continue on Place dictation of a press article De Brouckère, the smart excerpt on the theme “The new section of the central The Manneken-Pis Tour in Belgium”. The winners boulevards. A 50m circuit will will get in on the act! will win a backstage invitation be staked out for handbike, to the Grand Départ. slow bike and wheeling races. Through to 19 May, this little statue symbolic of Brussels will Daredevils can also try their be wearing the Yellow Jersey SATURDAY 30 MARCH hands at extreme biking with from 1958 that he wore at the introductory sessions on a Exhibition Universelle! He’ll The 33rd “Grande Boucle pumptrack. There’ll also be wear it again from 4 to 7 July. pedal carrousels, roaming des 24h vélo” musicians, street artists, and On the same day, the results a vintage market selling retro of the Tour Dictation will be The Bois de la Cambre will be cycling articles. And if you announced: suspense for all the setting for a stupefying 24- fancy a snack, food bikes will the children who took part! hr bike race. Scouts, guides be serving treats all day in a and pioneers from Belgium picnic zone. An evening celebration will and elsewhere take part in be organised on Place De a 24-hr relay race on bikes Brouckère in honour of the customised for the occasion. SUNDAY 31 MARCH anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first victory 50 years ago. This year the theme for this Loads more activities A retrospective set to music crazy competition will be “La will retrace the highlights of Grande Boucle des 24h vélo for the “D Day – 100” our champion’s career from (The Great Loop 24-hr bike weekend 1969 to the present. With race)”. “The Magician” as DJ to finish Starting at 10.00 am, all the the evening, there’s bound to 6,000 participants will meet up be a magical atmosphere! at 10.30 am, in time for Eddy activities of the previous day Merckx to fire the starting gun will continue on Place De one hour later. Brouckère. Those with more stamina On your marks, get set, SUNDAY 2 JUNE can arrive at 8.00 am for a and on your bike! hearty breakfast then set out on bikes as from 9.00 am, for International World 2-hr guided cycling tours with Bicycle Day Pro Bike, Cactus or Once in Brussels. Sunday 2 June is actually the day before International The friendly sports World Bicycle Day. Still we’ll atmosphere will continue be celebrating biking on the through to 3.30 pm. Sunday, with a programme featuring participatory, entertaining activities run by various associations, be a host of activities geared You can sign up as of conferences and accounts of around cycling, with music Wednesday 13 March, on the “sustainable travel”, “Kidz On and festive performances, event website via Wheelz” with initiations and all in a relaxed atmosphere! www.bxltour.be/inscription demonstrations for littluns. More info will be available in This fun day will take place upcoming weeks. at the Cinquantenaire park and will be organised in collaboration with the Environment Festival scheduled for 31 May to 2 June.

SUNDAY 16 JUNE www.bxltour.be The BXL TOUR

Brussels City Council will ATOMIUM be organising the third BXL FINISH TOUR, a cycle race through the streets of the capital. Since 2017, this event has been a can’t-miss in the diaries of several thousand cyclists who meet up every year, eager to take up the challenge with brio, sending out a clear message that Brussels City Council encourages the use of this gentle form of transport. PLACE DES PALAIS START The BXL TOUR 2019 looks set to be a very special one! Not only will it retrace part of the same circuit as the Tour de France race against the clock, it will also host the Belgian Master Championship! With only a few days to go to the Grand Départ, the BXL TOUR will pass through several suburbs of Brussels, giving participants a chance to explore or rediscover our SOURCE : openrunner.com magnificent capital + Parcours As befits tradition, after effort comes comfort at BIKECITY, which will welcome racers, inhabitants of Brussels and other visitors wishing to share this friendly moment: there will www.brusselsgranddepart.com 5 MAI – Fête de l’Iris SUNDAY 19 MAY The Grand- Fête de l’Iris 20 km de Bruxelles (Iris Festival) There’s nothing like the Grand Départ : Départ festivities to celebrate To celebrate the Brussels- Capital Region, come to Parc the 40th anniversary of this special Royal for this festival aiming legendary race! For this to attract all locals. A host special edition, Eddy Merckx of activities and events on will be at the starting line and guest for the programme including a several events geared around Grand-Départ stand where bicycles will be organised at visitors can defy the laws of the Cinquantenaire park. several gravity! FROM FRIDAY 24 events you FRIDAY 26 APRIL TO SUNDAY 26 MAY “Tous à Bord” and Retrorama the Grande Boucle mustn’t At this magnificent vintage With the association “Tous festival, the Grand Départ miss! à Bord”, a rather special foot gets a look-in with a retro race will take place between corner featuring jerseys and Grand-Place, Brussels and other cycling treasures. FROM THURSDAY 25 APRIL that of , where the 3rd stage of the Tour is due to SATURDAY 7 JUNE TO SUNDAY 5 MAY start on 8 July. This race will launch of the Roller Bike Brussels Short Film include participants of varying levels of mobility, running for Parade season Festival 70 km together. To open this rollerblading 26-28 APRIL and biking season through the WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL streets of Brussels, a Grand I Love Science Festival Flèche Wallonne Départ team will be decorating Brussels Expo the streets. Followed by a DJ set, special events and There are several advantages SUNDAY 28 APRIL the distribution of goodies. to bikes over cars, especially Liège – Bastogne – Liège the environmental benefits SATURDAY 15 JUNE of using your muscles to turn The Grand Départ will feature those pedals. Come and find in the advertising caravans Cyclonudista out just how much impact with goodies being handed out. cycling has on CO2 emissions For the past 15 years, a few at this edutaining fun festival hundred nudist cyclists have organised by visit.brussels. SATURDAY 18 MAY met up for a nude or nearly Admission free. www. La Belgian Pride nude ride through the Capital. SOURCE : openrunner.com ilovesciencefestival.brussels This festive and eco-friendly Cyclists will open the parade, demonstration aims to raise with the winner of the Cycling awareness of the importance World Championship decked of protecting cyclists in the city out in rainbow colours like the and the quality of city life. LGBT+ community flag.

Participants will get an SATURDAY 29 JUNE SATURDAY 29 opportunity to try out body painting in the Tour de France Prostate Cancer UK AND SUNDAY 30 JUNE jersey colours. European Cycle This benefit race is organised every year in the town hosting Messenger SATURDAY 22 JUNE the Grand Départ. The Championships Le Porteur d’Eau circuit is open, and all 260 participants can have fun This championship comprises (The Water Carrier) pedalling at their own pace. It a set of orienteering tasks. starts at Grand-Place, with the Based at the Mont des Arts, The Tour de France gets finishing line near the Château the Grand Départ will be a little tribute in this play de Laeken. present with installations in performed at the Théâtre de the event’s colours. Poche. It highlights the role played by these Other festive discreet athletes, activities will especially be organised in cyclists, serving several suburbs their leader as of Brussels. they provide refreshments, The programme perform will be available emergency shortly. repairs, helping them on to victory often in the role of scapegoat or punching-ball. SUNDAY 23 JUNE Fête de la Musique

The rock group with a cycling bent, Les Chasse-Patates, Funds raised will be donated will be performing during this to prostate cancer research. annual music festival. This offbeat set of champions Find out more: will perform a hilarious race www.prostatecanceruk.org against the clock singing /get-involved/grand-depart- various hits. classic www.brusselsgranddepart.com

THE WEEK OF THE GRAND DÉPART

Cphoto - A.S.O. / A. BROADWAY The champions will leave the Place des Palais WEDNESDAY 3 JULY and ride along the superb Inauguration of the press centre Saint-Hubert galleries, giving spectators from all over the world some fantastic views. Brussels Expo, on the Heysel plateau The teams will be announced one by one at will be housing the press centre and premises Grand-Place, with the event broadcast to 190 for the Tour de France organisers, A.S.O. different countries. The official inauguration will be at 2.00 pm, a symbolic moment. FRIDAY 5 JULY THURSDAY 4 JULY final of the Belgian Championship of the Eddy Merckx game > The FAN PARK Like the first From 4 to 7 ever victory of July, an area our champion focussing in the Tour de exclusively France, this on the Tour famous game de France will named after him be opened up is celebrating its on Place De half-centenary. Brouckère at The final of 4.00 pm. the Belgian For four days, Championship through to the will be taking final stage of the place in Grand Départ, Brussels! A.S.O. and various partners More information will organise will be available events, games at a later date. and workshops.

- Thursday 4 CPhoto - A.S.O. / T. MAHEUX July, from 2.00 to 8.00 pm - Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July, from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm - Sunday 7 July, from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

> Introducing the teams

Clearly a highlight of the Tour de France! Crowds will gather from 4.00 to 8.00 pm to see the line-up of the 22 teams of 8 racers who’ll be capturing the imagination of spectators for three weeks. There will be various shows to entertain the crowds. www.brusselsgranddepart.com - Towns the Tour will pass through: Brussels, Molenbeek, Ganshoren, Koekelberg, , Etterbeek, Woluwe- Saint-Pierre and Etterbeek. 6 E42 N238 N2 5 N25 N29 Court Court A15 N4 Huldenberg Huldenberg Duisburg Duisburg Sombreffe Sombreffe Farciennes N90 4 Overijse Overijse Kortenberg Kortenberg

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During this first stage of the 2019 Tour de Tour 2019 the of stage first this During pack the with set be soon will scene the France, Molenbeekleaving then Anderlecht, thinking Grammont, de Mur the of km 43, at view the of de Tour first the for circuit the on was which Merckx part 1969. took in Eddy which in France a in taking Charleroi, for head then racers The cobblestone section on way their to back Brussels. skirt They du Butte the Lion, Water where loo Napoleon famously met his downfall. final, the In a double reference to the “l’Ogre deTervuren”, of (another Merckx’s nicknames), town the in km 10 just fini the from shing line. ROAD STAGE SATURDAY 6 JULY BRUSSELS–CHARLEROI–BRUSSELSKM 192 > SUNDAY 7 JULY RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK STAGE IN BRUSSELS > 28 KM

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CONTACTS City of Brussels - Benjamin Adnet, Office of the First Alderman, Alderman of Climate and Sports, [email protected], +32 (0)498 91 84 38 - Wafaa Hammich, Office of the Mayor, [email protected], +32 (0)484 87 06 61 Organisation Marina Bresciani, Brussels Major Events, [email protected], +32 (0)478 22 61 59 www.brusselsgranddepart.com CPhoto - A.S.O. / B. BADE

ges will be available at both starting and finishing lines for each stage. each for lines finishing starting and both at available be will ges

Various VIPVarious packa VIP : www.brusselsgranddepart.com more out Find Useful information will feature in press releases during the run-up to the event. event. run-up the the to during releases press in feature will information Useful information. of source a precious be also will media social and websites various The Motorists are advised to use alternative transport: bicycles, of course, or public public or course, of bicycles, transport: alternative use to advised are Motorists etc. scooters transport, carpooling, in thein capital Brussels- the with collaboration close in organisers, the and City Council Brussels necessary all measures take will Police, the and Mobilité Bruxelles Region, Capital de Tour the by caused inconvenience any reduce to stops the all out pull and asFrance much as possible. Transport willTransport important an be the Grand Départ during issue week TRANSPORT Sign up at www.brusselsgranddepart.com/letour/tour-makers at up Sign The volunteers will also be part of the big Tour de France family, the third biggest biggest third the family, France de Tour big part be the of also will volunteers The adventure! incredible an be will This spectators! of terms in worldwide event Brussels! in time exciting an it make we’ll partner Adecco, our With The festivities get going on 28 March with the celebration of the 100 day run-up to the Grand Grand run-up the to day 100 the of celebration the with March 28 on going get festivities The over organised events of a host with 7 July, 6 and on stages the to through Départ continue and these months. From 28 March to 7 July, Brussels City Council and the organisers will be calling on 3,000 eager, 3,000 on eager, calling be will organisers the and City Council Brussels 7 July, to March 28 From responsibilities. their on depending up 18 or 16 aged volunteers, determined supporters, the welcome inquirers, other any and inhabitants the inform to be will task main Their and facilitate signage all along the circuit. The Tour Makers: 3.000 volunteersThe Tour motivated for a successful Grand Départ! IMPORTANT INFORMATION Éd. Resp. / Ver. Uitg. : O. Mees — Petite rue du Musée 6-8 Korte Museumstraat, Bruxelles 1000 Brussel