The first KoM points can be earned after only 40 km or so. Yes, really (and it's the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen, no less). So expect lots of nervousness (and crashes) up to that point. That today will end in a bunch sprint is almost certain; who will be the first to grab that yellow jersey?
Winner: Mike Teunissen!!!!!!!!
When you say Brussels, you say Manneken Pis ("Little Pisser" in Dutch). This little statue (designed in 1619) has had quite the storied history. In1628, it was destroyed overnight by a drunkard. In 1745, it was stolen by English troops. Two years later by French grenadiers... Its longest absence took place in 1817, when it was kidnapped by a former French convict named Antoine Lycas and only found three months later. Lycas was arrested and sentenced to hard labour for life. You should not mess with the Manneken-Pis. More recently, little Julien was kidnapped by students in 1963, 1968 and 1978, mutilated in 1955, 1957 and 1965, when vandals only left the legs ... But he always came back to urinate in front of tourists and symbolise the rebellious spirit of Brussels.
What definitely deserves a mention is the Comic book route. In the 90's huge advertising posters were removed from buildings, the spots where they were installed showed rundown facades that badly needed to be restored. What better way to do so than to paint images from the vast heritage of Franco-Belgian comics.
First sprint is always a guess: Groenewegen
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Viviani
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