Paris-Brussels Bicycle Race Finish - Info needed!

We are traveling to Brusssels and hope to see the finish of the classic Paris-Brussels bicycle race. Can someone confirm: Is the date Saturday 12 September? Where is the finish line - looks like in past years it%26#39;s been at the Atomium? About what time would the first riders be expected to finish? Any advice on a vantage point from which to see the finish? Last of all - good place for a beer afterward? Thanks much!

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1) Yes that%26#39;s the date.

2) Yes it was at the Atomium last year and this seems to be the traditional place since it was moved from Anderlecht. You take the metro to Heysel, the line now goes directly from Gare du Midi.

3) I haven%26#39;t yet been able to find out what streets will be closed when, will report back if I do.

4) No idea.

5) There%26#39;s a number of bars and cafés up there near Kinepolis, none very interesting, but be warned that on the same day (and Sunday), the city centre may be very busy because of the 65th anniversary of the liberation in 1944.

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Read all about it here

http://www.parijs-brussel.be/pb/?lang=en

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Indeed, but it only says the finish will be in Ave. Houba de Strooper from 16.30 and that%26#39;s a very long street! Taking reports of the finish being %26quot;at the Atomium%26quot; in the wider sense of %26quot;on the Heysel plateau%26quot;, my guess is that it is actually at/in front of the Roi Baudouin stadium, and that the route will be identical to that of the end of the Eneco Tour on 20/8/09, see http://www.bruxelles.be/artdet.cfm?id=5553.

This means you should take the metro not to Heysel but to Stuyvenberg (beginning of the closed part of Ave HdS, at Bd. De Smet de Naeyer), Houba Brugmann or Roi Baudouin, all of which are on Avenue HdS; the last would be closest to the actual finish, the Wemmel bridge (end of the road closure) is just beyond that.

Road closures for the race should show up eventually on here: http://www.inforoutes.be/ (in FR/NL but you will be able to read the date and names of streets, and should recognise %26quot;course cycliste Paris-Bruxelles%26quot;).

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If I read the roadbook correct, the finish of the race is 1.4 km from the intersection De Smet de Naeyerlaan and Houba De Stroperlaan. Which probably places it in front of the stadium.

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Thanks much for the very helpful advice! We are off tomorrow!