Next month, almost 200 men will bicycling across France to promote effort and teamwork. Sure, It seems like a great idea. But did I mention these men are prisoners?
Before jumping to conclusions, keep in mind that the convicts will all be under the supervision of guards who are also participating in the prisoners’ first Tour de France.
Participants hoping to snag an easy getaway by outracing the pack should rethink their strategies as authorities say “breakaway sprints” are not permitted.
According to Reuters, the 196 prisoners will be cycling along with 124 guards and prison sports instructors. No rankings will be administered as the idea of the Tour de France is for prisoners to withhold strong teamwork ethics.
One 48-year-old inmate Daniel, whose last name was not given, describes the upcoming event as an escape for him and the other prisoners saying to Reuters that was “a chance to break away from the daily reality of prison” that he endures in Nantes, France.
Daniel also joked to the news agency that if the prisoners were good, they might get probation.
The teamwork building event will take the prisoners across the country 1,400 miles, beginning in Lillie, France June 4, and finishing in Paris following Tour de France’s tradition. They will be stopping in 17 different towns that each are home to prisons, but will instead be sleeping in hotels.
Prison authority Sylvie Marion says that want to show the prisoners that “with some training, you can achieve our goals and start a new life.” She tells Reuters the project should provide inmates with an opportunity to “reintegrate into society by fostering values like effort, teamwork and self-esteem.”
The French call the race a form of therapeutic rehabilitation. While as Daniel mentioned before, good behavior could give the jailbirds an early release, it is not meant to be as early as the actual race. Hopefully, no brilliant escape ideas occur while prisoners stop to rest in France’s hotels.
Our Take:
I understand the point of building teamwork; however, giving prisoners this much freedom across France does make me a little uneasy. I’m not sure the prisoner’s Tour de France is the best plan no matter how many guards are racing by their sides. I look forward to hearing how the race plays out and if any attempt to have a breakaway sprint of their own.
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