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  • Best place to watch the last bit of the race is at the start of Arenberg, where there is a big screen.
    If I had a motorbike I would start at the crossing of the D643 near Inchy, then after the race passes head toward Wallers (you might if you're quick get to see it at Querenaing (sector 21), then the end of sector 19 at Wallers and then on to the bend in the road at secteur 16 north of Erre. From then head to the start of Arenberg, buy some frites and watch the race unfold on the big screen.

  • There will be a tonne of people leaving each sector after the race passes to get to another sector, so the traffic can be a big problem (a motorbike will be a great asset!)
    Also be aware that there is a lot of drunk driving, I have seen quite a few accidents over the years, so be cautious overtaking!
    You might not be able to get that close to a sector to leave the bike, so you will have to hoof it after you park it, and it is better in my opinion to head to a sector and get on to it well before the peleton goes by, so you get a good spot. You may want to be conservative in trying to get to see the race too many times. You could very easily get from Arenberg (or Wallers Helesmes) to either the stadium, or the Carrefour de l'Arbre (Gruson is not that great a sector to watch), you might be able to see Orchies too, from the motorway, but they have stopped people stopping there in recent years.
    Camphin en Pevele used to be a great sector, but I don't know what it is currently like (it used to be really rough, if you could see the riders on this you could get a real feel for how hard the race is, it might have been relaid, I haven't seen it for a while). The race will be in bits by then!
    I like to see the big screen at Arenberg, as in years when I have chased a few sectors I have got almost no idea what is going on, and it is really hard to work it out from brief glimpses as they go past!
    The stadium is really crowded but if you can get there early enough (and find somewhere to park) there is a big screen there. The roar when the riders come into the stadium has to be felt once in your life!
    Also if you are there on Saturday you might be able to ride some of the pave, later in the day, but have a recce of the route you plan if you can, as knowing where to get to is very useful.

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