BOILED ALIVE IN HIS POISON-PROOF SUIT

Boffin thought Novichok scare would ‘make him millions’

THE world’s biggest cycle race is underway and British rider Chris Froome ( above), 33, is after his FIFTH title.

Covering 2,082 miles over three weeks, the 21- stage marathon is the toughest of all.

We’ve all heard about Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal, but here are 10 things you might not know about the Tour de France, which began in 1903… THE very first fatality occurred in 1910 but the victim, French fella Adolphe Helière, did not die during the race – he drowned while swimming in Nice on a rest day. IN 1904, French cheat Hippolyte Aucouturier tied a piece of cork to a long piece of string and tied the other end to the back of a car. The idea was for him to bite down on the cork and let the car tow him. His plan was foiled when someone saw the string. IN 1999, Italian Mario Cipollini taped a pic of Pamela Anderson to his handlebars in a bid to give him inspiration and boost his testosterone. ITALIAN Gino Bartali won in 1938 and 1948 but he also saved Jews from the Nazis in World War Two. He worked as a courier and carried secret messages and fake IDs in the frame of his bike. If stopped, he simply said he was training for the race. RIDERS used to drink beer during the stages to numb pain, but that was outlawed in the ’ 60s. RIDERS in the ’ 20s also used to smoke before climbing stages, believing it increased their lung capacity.

1904, winner Italian Maurice Garin and the three runners- up were all disqualified after they used trains instead of riding their bikes. THIS is the 105th edition of the race and for much of the past, cheating has been rife. Cyclists have poured itching powder down a rival’s clothing, spiked drinks and scattered broken glass for trailing riders. HISTORIANS say most French people did not know the shape of their country until cycling magazine started publishing maps of the race route. FREDDIE Mercury wrote Bicycle Race after seeing a stage of the 1978 Tour. PLASTIC MAN: Lionel made a suit similar to this one Dustin Hoffman wore in the hit movie A BOFFIN who designed a suit which protects against Russian death poison Novichok was BOILED ALIVE when he got trapped inside his invention.

Lionel Perkins began work on a “practical, reliable, economical Hazchem suit for the general public” after Vladimir Putin’s goons poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Wilts, earlier this year.

His work stepped up a gear after Dawn Sturgess, 44, died last week after exposure to Novicho k.

But the 57- year- old’s headlong rush to riches was cut short by a mishap during the testing stage of the suit.

Unmarried Lionel was found dead in his Huddersfield workshop by pal Pete Tidiman.

Pete said: “Lionel reckoned that with all this Novichok floating around Wiltshire, everyone would want their own Hazchem suit. He thought it would make him millions, but he skimped on essentials and used a cheap Taiwanese zip.

“It seems he tried the suit on last Monday – when it was nudging 95 degrees – and the zip stuck. The temperature in the suit rocketed and he was unconscious within minutes.”

Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, 45, fell ill in Amesbury on June 30 after being exposed to the terrifying nerve agent.

Ms Sturgess died last Sunday. Mr Rowley remains in a critical condition.

Police are investigating a possible link to the case of Sergei and Yulia Skripal – who were poisoned with the same substance.

The UK government has blamed the godless Russian secret services for the incident, but the country’s authorities deny any involvement. TRAGIC END: Boffin Lionel sweltered to death in his novel suit