FIVE MONTHS ago, the only thing that Nicolas, Rachid and Yassim had in common with the greats of professional cycling was their high-carbohydrate dinner: pasta, served to them with unfailing regularity at the Seysses prison in Toulouse.
The rest of their lives were spent inside the four walls of the jail watching television. So when they were first asked if they wanted to take part in a 3,500km bike ride around the countryside of France, they had only one reaction.
“We thought they were kidding,” said Nicolas (22), whose fresh face makes him look more like a boy-band member than a hardened criminal. “We couldn’t believe it could be true.” Yesterday the three young men set off on their 176km stretch of arguably the most unlikely sporting event in their country’s history: the penal Tour de France.
In an event organisers hope will help boost rehabilitation projects in France’s struggling jails, around 200 convicted criminals are taking part in a nationwide ride through the hills, plains and vineyards of their country.
Selected by prison staff – who took into account good behaviour as well as sporting prowess – the majority of detainees are riding one stage before passing the baton to a team from another prison. The ride started in Lille last week, and will finish in Paris. However, instead of the grandeur of the Champs Elysees, the venue will be a rather less glamorous sports stadium on the city’s southern outskirts.
For Nicolas, the experience has been transforming. “It’s a chance to get out of our four walls. When you can get out even for a minute it does you good.” Philippe, a detainee from the Tarascon prison in Provence, said the training had been invaluable. “The physical effects are obvious on us all,” he said. “But I think it’s also strengthened the bond between us.”
Such reactions come as no surprise to Francois Grosvalet, who organised the tour in his capacity as sport development adviser to the French prison system. “The role of physical activity in the rehabilitation process has not been fully exploited,” he said. “Sport can have a calming and balancing effect on prisoners.” He said it was not just the prisoners but society as a whole which stood to benefit from a more effective rehabilitation of criminals.
Despite initial concerns over security, organisers say they have had no problems with logistics. Inmates have been escorted throughout by prison officers, but have not had to wear security bracelets or sleep in rooms with surveillance. Breakaway sprints of the kind seen in the real Tour, however, been forbidden – though organisers say that is less out of fear that prisoners will take the command literally and more out of concern for team mentality.