650 Nîmes students took part in the dictation of the Tour de France at the Costières stadium

For the occasion, the children were all gathered in two rooms of the sports venue. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

Four months before the return of the Great Loop in Gard, on July 16, Nîmes is launching a series of events around cycling.

As part of the activities carried out by the city of Nîmes around cycling, the dictation of the Tour advances as the first highlight of these coming months until the end of the year. rsquo;arrival, on July 16, of the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France on avenue Salvador-Allende.

City officials were present alongside Nîmes schoolchildren. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

11 schools and 650 students

This Friday, March 22, 650 students from 11 Nîmes schools gathered in the premises of the Costières stadium. After a breakfast taken in the stands, at the edge of the pitch, the CM2 students sat down with their pens, ready for dictation. Before the start of the test, the first councilor of Nîmes, Jean-Paul Fournier, wanted to address a few words to the children: "J’ would like to say hello to the 650 students from the eleven schools who are with us today. I warn you, you won't have to make many mistakes."

Véronique Gardeur-Bancel, deputy delegate for education and academic success, as well as Nicolas Rainville, deputy delegate for sports, also encouraged the students: "Have you all chosen the pen that doesn't make mistakes ?" It's 10 o'clock, dictation can begin.

Concentration of students during dictation. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

This year, disabled cyclist Violaine Harani and archer Pierre Plihon, present at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, read to the children. "Now we're going to get down to business", declared the double European archery team champion. On the theme of the Tour de France, the dictation returned to the route of this 16th stage, four months before the return of the Great Loop in the Gard (after 2019 and 2021, Editor's note).

For the students, this day continues with around twenty discovery and introduction workshops to different sports: cycling, handball, rugby, road prevention… Finally, at the end of the dictation corrections, the sixteen best will win a place to attend the finish of the Tour de France stage in Nîmes, with, as a bonus, a access to the technical area dedicated to the international press, photos on the podium and privileged discussions with the runners.