法国将在下月组织近200名在押囚犯参加一次特殊的“环法自行车越野赛”。他们将在6月4日从法国的北部城市里尔启程，途经17个站点，最后到达巴黎，全程2300公里。整个比赛途中将有124名警卫随行，并且要求囚犯集体行动，不允许有人掉队或者突然加速。此次囚犯“环法赛”不设排名，主要是为了激发囚犯的自信，同时培养他们的团队协作精神。

Close to 200 prisoners will cycle around France next month, watched by scores of guards on bicycles, in the first penal¹ version of the Tour de France, authorities said on Monday.

The 196 prisoners will cycle in a pack and breakaway sprints² will not be allowed. They will be accompanied by 124 guards and prison sports instructors³. There will be no ranking, the idea being to foster values like teamwork and effort.

"It's a kind of escape for us, a chance to break away from the daily reality of prison," said Daniel, a 48-year-old prisoner in the western city of Nantes, at the official launch of the event. His last name was not given.

"If we behave well, we might be able to get released earlier, on probation," he told reporters.

The prisoners' Tour de France will take them 2,300 km (1,400 miles) around the country, starting in the northern city of Lille on June 4 and stopping in 17 towns, each of which has a prison. However, participants will sleep in hotels.

The finish line will be in Paris, following Tour de France tradition.

"This project aims to help these men reintegrate into society by fostering values like effort, teamwork and self-esteem," said Sylvie Marion of the prison authorities.

"We want to show them that with some training, you can achieve your goals and start a new life," she said.