ITV Tour de France presenter and cycling expert Ned Boulting is bringing his one man show to the North-East later this year. 'Bikeology' is described as a journey into the confused and lonely soul of our love affair with the humble bicycle – from the eccentric rural German origins of the pushbike to the highest mountains of the Tour de France."

On Two Wheels spoke to him about this year's Tour.

When did you first get into cycling?

After a period of 20 years during which I neither owned, nor rode a bike, I was reacquainted with cycling when I was introduced to the Tour de France. Knowing nothing about cycling, I was sent by ITV to Paris to cover the race. As ‘entry level’ drugs go, the Tour de France is a pretty strong hit and I was hooked from the start. It wasn’t long before I was consuming huge amounts of cycling, and now here I am; a pusher.

What is your favourite Tour moment of all time?

The Northern Echo: Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France

It’s hard to see past the sight of Bradley Wiggins in the yellow jersey, working for his team-mate Mark Cavendish, in the world champion’s Rainbow bands, on his way to a fourth consecutive win on the Champs Élysées.

What’s your favourite behind the scenes story?

Wiggins producing the ride of his life - to that point - in Andorra in 2009, only to find that, when he got to the finish line up the mountain, his team car was locked, and he had nowhere to even sit down. Then it started raining. That always struck me as a very Tour de France image. It’s a frighteningly amateur sport sometimes.

What is the most notable way the Tour de France has changed during your 14 summers of covering it?

It speaks English. When I started, there were very few English speaking riders, and the common language of cycling was French. But the economics and globalisation of the sport have changed all of that. It’s now a thoroughly anglophone environment, with even the French riders succumbing to English. It’s a shame, really.

What are your expectations for this summer’s Tour?

The Northern Echo: Chris Froome. Picture: Action Images

I think it may be Chris Froome’s hardest test yet. Fabio Aru and Nairo Quintana, as well as a rejuvenated Alberto Contador are his most formidable opponents yet. But if he does win again, he will join a very select, very special group of three time winners of the Tour.

Are there any riders that you are particularly excited to see involved this year?

Yes, the French climber Thibaut Pinot, who finished third overall in 2014, has made he strides recently. Imagine a French winner of the Tour! They’ve been waiting for 30 years.

What do you enjoy the most about your job as a presenter?

Bringing across the comedy of an event that tries to take itself seriously, but is always on the brink of collapsing into chaos and disarray. The dramas, and they are daily, speak for themselves. But it is an astonishingly fast moving narrative, so complex, so detailed, so inviting. I enjoy reacting to the live events, and finding - on those rare occasions - the correct words to describe them.

The British have recently enjoyed a golden period of influence within the Tour, with Wiggins, Cavendish and Froome. How important have their successes been to the increased popularity of cycling in the UK?

Yes, it seems so. Which is a wonderfully childish connection to make: “I want a bike so I can do what Wiggo does!” But then again, cycling is a childhood pursuit, which can endure into adulthood, and can become a tool in everyday life. In that respect it’s so different to almost any other sport. When Jessica Ennis won the heptathlon gold in London, people didn’t suddenly start heptathlon-ing to work.

Which young British riders do you think might continue this across the next ten years?

Watch out for Hugh Carthy. He’s just starting out, with a second tier Spanish team, but has already shown he has the potential to climb with the biggest names in the sport. Then there are the Yates twins, Adam and Simon. They could be very special.

What effect do you think the actions of Lance Armstrong have had on the sport of cycling? How effectively do you think the sport has moved on from that scandal?

The Northern Echo: Lance Armstrong

Armstrong’s unmasking forced (almost) everyone within the sport to start again, from scratch. Strangely, it has not diminished the public’s interest in cycling, but it has affected the commercial reality of financing the sport; sponsors are hard to find. It’s a lot cleaner than it was. But, then again, it was filthy.

Should audiences coming to Bikeology be prepared for anything at all?

Tyre levers, inner tubes, a pump, a stopwatch, a couple of gold medallists. I leave the rest to your imagination. If you can change an inner tube quick-time, you might just be the right person for the show’s finale challenge!

  • 'Bikeology' comes to the Playhouse at Whitley Bay on November 7. Tickets are available from the box office and through Amazon Tickets or Ticketmaster.