WHEN a bike crash left cycling commentator Ned Boulting looking for a project to pass the time, he found a mysterious roll of film of the 1923 Tour de France.

It led to an odyssey around France and Belgium trying to discover the riders and stories of the event.

Now ITV’s lead Tour de France commentator, is bringing the fascinating story to the stage in his one-man show, Ned Boulting’s Marginal Mystery Tour: 1923 And All That.

Based on his bestselling book 1923: The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession, it’s part detective story, part murder mystery, part costume drama and part French farce.

Ned weaves his own “typically ridiculous story” into the astonishing discoveries he makes about the hidden world of the 1923 Tour de France, its characters and tragedies, and ties it all together with the wild upheavals of Europe in-between the wars.

He draws a connection between cycling heroes of yesteryear and champions of today, from Cavendish to Pogačar and beyond.

David Millar, former pro cyclist, and Ned’s Tour de France co-commentator says: “There is no one quite like Ned at recreating a fascinating story for the stage.

“Expect high production values and a stellar one-man performance that is brilliantly written and executed, appealing to both cycling enthusiasts and keen theatre goers.”

* So Ned, how did this project come about?

“This story starts off with a bang, literally. It was an act of the Cycling Gods. A bike crash left me helpless and looking for interesting projects to pass the time. Out of the blue, I was sent a link to an online auction during the winter lockdown of 2020. The lot for sale was a reel of old Pathé footage, incomplete, very fragile and of unknown providence.

“The rest, as they say, was history. And research. Lots of research.”

* How did the research and writing process differ from other books you’ve written?

“There is no comparison. This book took over my life for the best part of two years. It carved paths into the past, stuff that I unearthed which blew my mind, but it also allowed me to forge friendships in the here and now, when at last I could get to Belgium and France and explore the story to its conclusion.”

* When did you decide that your book could be transferred to the stage?

“I wanted to know first how the book would be received. In the back of my mind, I feared that I might have gone mad, and that people wouldn’t come with me on the journey. Thankfully, they have done that in huge numbers.

“I already sense a kinship among readers of the book, and adapting it for the stage allows for a different appreciation of the story. And hopefully, a celebration.”

* What can we expect from the show?

“In the past, you might have had to have followed the Tour quite closely to have got the most out of the evening. This time, because the story spends a lot of time in 1923, I assume no knowledge.

“I want to bring everyone, regardless of whether you have read the book or not, with me on the same wonderful, fascinated journey.

“But, and I can’t stress this enough, there will be jokes about David Millar, Mark Cavendish and Chris Boardman. I can’t NOT do that!”

* Is there going to be a particular bit of the show to watch out for? Is there going to be audience participation?

* I’m still working on it. But I haven’t ruled out the return of my world famous Peter Sagan impression, last used to devastating effect in 2018 on stage. Connoisseurs will realise that over the course of six weeks on the road it went from bad to worse to unrecognisable. But I’ve had a few years to work on it. It could be back!”

* A one-man stage show is a difficult undertaking - how have you prepared?

“I go to altitude training camp in Hilly Fields in Lewisham, staggering around the weeks for weeks on end, muttering to myself and trying to make myself laugh about cycling. It’s not easy.”

* What do you hope audiences will take away from your show?

“Nothing but love for the greatest race on earth. It’s really very simple. Oh, and a signed copy of 1923. That’s quite important too.”

* Ned Boulting’s Marginal Mystery Tour: 1923 And All That is at King’s Hall, Ilkley, on Thursday, October 31.

For tickets call (01274) 432000 or go to bradford-theatres.co.uk