Skip to content

Cycling fan recreates Tour de France in miniature

News image@Englishtifosi The miniature peloton on the extension roof@Englishtifosi
Tour de France devotee Peter Martin sounded the starting gun in his back garden

A cycling fan who was "inconsolable" about the Tour de France being postponed has recreated scenes from the event in miniature in his back garden.

Peter Martin, from Marsham in Norfolk, has transformed his pool into the Mediterranean and roof into mountains.

Originally scheduled to start on 27 June, the Tour was postponed until 29 August due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The race devotee said the response to his tweets of his Tour de My Back Garden had been "phenomenal".

News imageBBC Mr Martin and his son Henri stage a scene over their paddling poolBBC
Mr Martin and his son Henri have re-imagined their paddling pool as the Mediterranean sea
News image@Englishtifosi Pile-up on the model course@Englishtifosi
There was a moment of high drama on the course as the model cyclists collided

Mr Martin has posted numerous scenes online featuring his 1,400-strong collection of models and has been helped by his eight-year-old son Henri Desgrange, named after the event's founder.

The collector has previously displayed his models in local village halls to raise money for charity.

News imageBBC Peter MartinBBC
He has used every aspect and feature of his garden, even the walls
News imageBBC Model collectionBBC
Mr Martin has acquired his collection of models over 22 years visiting France during the real race
News image@Englishfitosi The start of the Tour de My Back Garden@Englishfitosi
Mr Martin has posted about four photos a day - since the original scheduled start date - on Twitter
News image@Englishfitosi The Champs Elysees finish@Englishfitosi
The recreation includes the famous final sprint on the Champs-Elysees in Paris
News image@Englishtifosi Mark Cavendish wins the final stage of the Tour de My Back Garden@Englishtifosi
Mark Cavendish wins the final stage of the Tour de My Back Garden

All photos subject to copyright.