IN July 2000, Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong went head to head in one of the most exciting stages of the Tour de France ever.

It is their deep rivalry and the way their lives drew parallels but ultimately spiralled in different directions which is portrayed in Ventoux – the one-act show which re-creates the race knowing everything we know now about the two athletes.

Directed by Matt Wilks of Nottingham-based 2Magpies Theatre, the show uses real footage of Mont Ventoux, a pair of road bikes and actual race commentary to explore the lengths which the athletes went to in order to succeed.

The scene is set from the moment you enter the room, the two actors - Tom Barnes as Marco Pantani and Alexander Gatehouse as Lance Armstrong - are in full 'warm-up mode'.

As the pair introduce themselves - Alexander brushing off a 'boo' aimed at his character from one member of the audience - so begins the unravelling of a story which has fascinated people for years.

The story is told through intense moments of action - a genuine hunger from both Pantani and Armstrong to be the best, with furious pedalling along the gruelling route of Mont Ventoux, as well as more personal, softer moments.

The pair effortlessly portray the intense rivalry they shared but also the admiration they had for one another's achievements.

Their careers went in opposite directions after they crossed the finish line, with Armstrong going on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles - all voided when his long-term doping was revealead - while Pantani died of a cocaine overdose alone in a hotel room.

The music is almost unsettling, with deep bass notes imitating the sound of a beating heart, and heavy breathing, but also helps put the audience in the shoes of the athletes.

After all, it was far from an easy ride. 

Hindsight is probably one of the things that makes this show so popular, the nature of Armstrong's deception and Pantani's tragic death continuing to shock today.

If you missed out (the Courtyard sold out, understandably) Ventoux is back in Herefordshire in May, at the Conquest Theatre in Bromyard. For tickets visit conquest-theatre.co.uk