A front-row seat at the Tour de France: Ainhoa's TentBox road trip to the Tourmalet
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Every July, thousands of fans line the roads of the Tour de France. The best spots on the big mountain climbs go to the people who were there first. This summer, Ainhoa was one of them. She drove less than 4 hours from Hossegor, parked on the Col du Tourmalet the night before the stage and slept in her TentBox Cargo, with her bike locked on top.
Meet Ainhoa
Ainhoa is from the South-West of France and shares outdoor content. She runs, cycles and hikes, and loves finding new places to go. She plans a lot, because she loves it, but always leaves room for improvisation.
“There's always a reason to go outside.”
Why the Tourmalet
The idea was to combine her two passions: cycling and being on the move. The Tourmalet is one of the most legendary climbs in cycling, and seeing the Tour come through in that setting was the perfect excuse for a road trip. She rode it herself afterwards.
“I love coming here regularly, and with TentBox it's simple: you can plan at the last minute.”
The plan: less than 4 hours' drive from Hossegor to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 3 nights in her TentBox Cargo, and the days around the stage spent cycling, walking and rediscovering the Pyrenees. Breakfast was made on the KitchenBox, with the mountains as the view.
The night before the stage
On a Tour climb, roads close ahead of the race, so most fans arrive the day before. When Ainhoa got there, the roadside was already packed, so she found a spot a little lower down, on the verge, and decided not to move. A bit of a slope, a magnificent view, and cows right in front of her.
The night was cool in the mountains. She left the tent open on the mosquito mesh and woke up to a sunrise over the Pyrenees.
Race day
“The atmosphere was incredible. We had a really good spot because we'd slept there the night before, before everyone arrived.”
On the day, there were fans, camper vans, bikes and atmosphere everywhere. The rule at the roadside is simple: stay behind the line to let the riders through. The riders went past really fast, an intense and impressive few seconds. Then the rain came, the crowd left in twenty minutes, and Ainhoa drove up to the top to spend one more night on the pass.
A bike and a bed on one roof
Ainhoa and her travel companion Martin were sceptical at first: they don't really do van life and prefer to pitch a tent somewhere. A few weeks of using the TentBox Cargo changed their minds. It opens and closes in seconds, has an entrance on each side with a mosquito net and a waterproof panel, and a mattress she found surprisingly comfortable.
For this trip, the Cargo carried all their camping gear (sleeping bags) inside, and her road bike locked on the roof rack on top.
“I'd tell them it's much easier with a rooftop tent, especially the TentBox Cargo, because it folds and unfolds in a few seconds.”
Ainhoa's tips to follow a Tour stage
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Arrive the day before: roads close and the best spots go early.
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Bring food and drink: once the car is parked, don't move if you want to keep your spot.
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Stay behind the line on race day to leave the road clear for the riders.
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Take your bike: explore the area and leave the car where it is.
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Take the time to enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery, especially in the mountains.
Since then, and what's next
The TentBox Cargo now goes on all her getaways, especially the last-minute ones: cycling weekends and nights out in nature in Brittany, the Pyrenees and Chamonix. Next up: Ordesa, to discover the Spanish side of the Pyrenees by bike.
Check which TentBox fits your car
FAQ
When should you arrive to watch a Tour de France mountain stage?
The day before. Roads close ahead of the race and the best spots fill up early. Ainhoa slept on the climb the night before the stage.
Can you take a bike and a rooftop tent on the same car?
With the TentBox Cargo, yes: Ainhoa's road bike was locked on top of the tent.
How long does a TentBox Cargo take to open?
In Ainhoa's words, it folds and unfolds in a few seconds.
What should you bring to follow a stage?
Food and drink for the day, warm layers for the mountain night, and your bike if you want to explore while the car stays parked.
