While a stage of the naturist cycling tour of France must roll from Tournai to Lille on Saturday July 30, the northern prefecture has banned its passage through the Lille metropolis.
La marseillaise à pétanque 2022, 61st edition of the world –
On July 30, the 13th stage of a somewhat special Tour de France will begin, since it takes place while naked on a bicycle. These cyclists of a new kind will not however be able to pedal in the simplest device, neither in Tournai, city of departure, nor in Lille, city of arrival. In a decree published on July 22, 2022, the protest demonstration organized under the label “World Naked Bike Ride” or “cyclonue”, has indeed been banned in Lille by the Nord prefecture, as well as in all the municipalities along the route, namely Willems, Tressin, Baisieux, Forest-sur-Marque, Villeneuve d’Ascq and Mons-en-Baroeul.
A ban on demonstrations motivated by the established circuit, lasting 22.5 kilometers, with a passage “on very busy tourist hiking trails, in places accessible to a large family audience during this summer period and the first day of the weekend, promoting exposure of the procession to as many people as possible”, is it written in the decree. A few lines later, it is also specified that “sexual exhibition is likely to produce disturbances to public order”.
While the prefecture indicates that it has tried to change the mode of demonstration – nudity, there is mention of the refusal “categorical” from the organizer. A refusal assumed by Jean-François Feuteun, president of the naturist movementproject leader in France: “For us, it’s unacceptable because it changes the nature of our message. Nudity represents the fragility of humanity in the face of climate or road safety issues, because “a naked cyclist is a seen cyclist”, he indicates.
The objective therefore remains unchanged: complete a long loop in 16 stages from July 14 to August 4, “as bare as you dare”, can we read in the description of the Facebook group. 25 to 50 kilometers per day to put the spotlight on various local issues depending on the stage: fishing resources at the start in Brittany or, for Tournai-Lille, climate refugees. “Climate problems will also lead to water wars. We cannot remain in this posture of not talking about it and anticipating”, deplores Jean-François Feuteun.
To date, of the 16 stages, 14 have been subject to this type of order and two – Lyon yesterday and Dijon tomorrow – have been negotiated. “It was ok as long as we weren’t going downtown. We are also in the middle of negotiations to do another route from Tournai, but we will see if we are blocked at the border.”, indicates the president of the Naturist Movement.
In any case, those who wish will be able to participate in the event, which will take place on July 30. “Yesterday in Lyon, there were 50 participants from 9 to 72 years old”, rejoices Jean-François Feuteun: “But it’s completely heartbreaking to see all these arrested. What is the problem in France so that it cannot accept this type of demonstration which has been happening quite naturally for 20 years in major capitals?
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