Coronavirus: Kiwi in New York attempts gruelling Tour de France from his lounge

A Kiwi man living in New York is getting a taste of the gruelling Tour de France cycling race - and he hasn't even left his house.

With schools and non-essential businesses closed and 'the city that never sleeps' effectively in lockdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott Bensley is among many around the world attempting a once-in-a-lifetime sporting achievement from the comfort of his home.

Bensley is attempting to replicate the 3500km, 23-day race on an exercise bike in his living room and says he got the idea, after seeing a story about someone running a marathon in their apartment.

As of Tuesday afternoon (NZ time), the Kiwi had completed seven of the races' 21 stages.

"Genuinely do not have a clue what I am doing! But hey, I got a yellow jersey and like Lance [Armstrong] said, 'you need dumb focus', so it is with those inspirational words I will focus on the goal of not tearing both quads in my pursuit of the Indoor Tour de France," Bensley said on Instagram.

He's one of many Kiwis using the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to attempt a sporting feat. Earlier this month, Auckland man Logan James spent his Saturday running a marathon doing loops around his house.

In the UK, Kiwi Amy Jansen has used her time to climb Mt Everest from her staircase.

As for the real Tour de France race, that has been rescheduled for the end of August, moved from its original time of mid-July.