By Kate Dowding
As if being a Formula 1 racing driver wasn’t enough of an adventure, Valtteri Bottas has spent the last few days on a cycling side quest.
While most drivers travelled from Sepang to Singapore on a short flight or road trip, Bottas rode the ‘419.67km commute’ on his new gravel bike.
He set off just hours after retiring from the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia, documenting each stage of his journey on Strava and social media.
The first leg of his route covered 56.6km from Kuala Lumpur Airport to a small village. The second day comprised of 162km over narrow trails and sandy tracks, with Bottas finishing the day’s ride in darkness. His route took him through palm oil plantations, and past a crocodile farm on day 3, which saw him cycle another 161km.
The final day was a shorter 40km to the centre of Singapore, with the Cadillac driver arriving in time for his media commitments at the start of the race weekend. The ride would have helped him acclimatise to the high humidity (over 65%) and temperatures of around 30 C.
This is far from the first time Bottas has cycled a long distance. He took part in the Gravel World Championships in Belgium in 2024 and has already qualified for the next World Championships in Australia.
Running used to be his exercise of choice but his partner, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, introduced him to the sport and now it seems as though he can’t get enough. The Finn came 5th in his age group at the Gravel Tour Hlinsko, qualifying for the Gravel World Championships.
What makes this commute so compelling is its authenticity – it’s just Bottas doing Bottas things. Indeed, fans and commentators have praised the ride as ‘the most Bottas thing ever’, applauding his willingness to embrace adventure amid a challenging season.
