Tour de France commentator set to appear at the Apex later this year

Ned Boulting, ITV’s lead Tour de France commentator, will be returning to The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, later this year with a fresh assault on cycling senses.

His love affair with the Tour began in 2003, and this year will be his 20th working behind the mic at the world’s biggest cycle race, which is now in full swing on the roads in France.

His show “Re-Tour de Ned” is an indispensable theatrical road map for anyone aspiring to wear the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysées, with a useful, but very rough guide to the tactics (pedal faster) and challenges (not pedalling fast enough) involved when competing in the biggest bike race in the world.

Ned previously appeared at The Apex with his one-man stage show in 2016. This year, his visit is the 27th event of a 29-date tour that will see him travel up and down the country.

He said: “I’m returning after a six year absence to the first venue I ever played with this once man show. The Apex in Bury St Edmunds. Look how far I’ve come … back to exactly the same place.

“My last stage show tour was in 2018 so I’m excited to be getting back out there. Along the way, there will be time to call to mind the greatest racers of the age, and to do hopelessly bad impressions of them. There will be scope to celebrate all that is French about France, and all that is Tourish about the Tour: Stuff like ignoring 12th century cathedrals, peeing at the side of the road, pushing spectators over, punching demonstrators and generally behaving like a shaven-legged hooligan for a month while riding over entire mountain ranges.

“Join me for another ride through the peaks and troughs of the silliest and the grandest month of the year. I’ll hand out copious, thoroughly unreliable, advice on How To Win The Tour de France. Or if not that, then at least How To Watch It On The Telly.”

David Millar, former pro cyclist and Ned’s Tour de France co-commentator for the last 8 years said: “If it’s anything like the previous editions then you’re guaranteed to leave the theatre with a smile on your face. Ned provides a fantastic look behind the scenes at the Tour and you’ll get small insight into what I must put up with travelling around France with Ned for a month every July.”

The 2022 edition of the Tour de France started on July 1 with the first of three stages in Denmark and finishes on the Champs-Elysees, 21 stages later, on July 24. Ned then has just 10 weeks to write, develop and perfect the show before the first doors open in October.

Ned Boulting is at The Apex on Thursday, November 10, at 7.30pm, see www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.