The Tour de France Penetentiaire

French prison authorities have come up with a novel way of assisting with the rehabilitation of 200 inmates – the Tour de France Penetentiaire.  

Their 2 week tour, is divided into 15 stages and the starts and finishes are designed to be near gaols where prisoners are picked up and dropped off. A core group of prisoners and guards will complete the entire 2200km course.

Prisoners serving sentences of up to 25 years are riding in the peleton with their guards, all wearing identical outfits.  Crowds turn out to cheer the participants on.