Woluwé-Saint-Pierre, the Brussels commune where Eddy Merckx grew up, is hoping to have a stage of the Tour de France 2019 pass through it. The Tour de France 2019 will set off from Brussels. This will be the fifth departure from Belgium and the second since Expo '58 (the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958).
Benoit Cerexhe, the Mayor of Woluwé Saint-Pierre, revealed, “There is a historical connection between our commune, the Tour de France and Eddy Merckx. Eddy both grew up and learned to ride a bike here.”
Merckx’s parents lived in Woluwé-Saint-Pierre for a long time and, in particular, ran a grocery there. There is also a sports connection between Merckx and Woluwé-Saint-Pierre. Indeed, in this Brussels commune Eddy Merckx wore his first yellow jersey on June 29th, 1969.
The commune has already contacted the organisers of the Tour de France to make this event a grand Brussels celebration. Mayor Cerexhe concluded, “It is clear that our commune is making every effort ensure this stage is an attraction for the area. We would like all of our locals to be able to see the squad and applaud history’s greatest Belgian sporting icon.”
The Brussels Times
