The Sauber driver is organizing a motor event: Bottas has never driven such a race

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

We know Valtteri Bottas (33) as an Alfa-Sauber Formula 1 driver, who races across the circuits on four wheels at over 300 km/h. But this season’s 22 Grands Prix are not enough for the Finn. Bottas also rides other races – cycling races!

The Sauber star also really accelerates with muscle and on two wheels. The Finn especially likes to ride a gravel bike, the new racing bike trend on gravel roads.

Alongside his Australian friend Tiffany Cromwell (34), who is a professional cyclist, Bottas has become so addicted to the cycling virus that he is now even organizing his own gravel race.

Own race in hometown Lahti

On Saturday, the event FNLD GRVL (stands for Finland Gravel) takes place in the forests around his hometown of Lahti. Bottas to Blick: “I organized it together with other people. There are three different race distances. Because it will be a colorful mix of participants, we have everything from absolute beginners to the best drivers in the world. »

Bottas in gravel fever. The deliberately relaxed Gravel scene is actually an alternative to the often playful Formula 1 circus with its constant pressure. For the Sauber star, time in the saddle is a relaxation program that is also endurance training. During F1’s winter break in December alone, he clocked 72 hours on the bike and some 2,000 kilometers on gravel.

For a few months now, the Finn has also been an ambassador for the German manufacturer Canyon, which has now even released a special Bottas edition. Most recently, a week before the Monaco GP, Bottas rode a UCI race in the Gravel World Series in Scotland where he finished 118th out of over 1000 competitors.

Alfa-Sauber is the title sponsor of the cycling race

Now follows the self-organized race. Where does the F1 driver get the time? “When I’m not working in Formula 1 with the team or at the GPs, I have time for that. It’s nice to have time for other things besides racing. The bike is a big passion. It’s cool to be so involved are in this area.”

But it is clear that a driver acts as a race promoter. Because Bottas managed to win his employer Alfa-Sauber as title sponsor for his clay court event.

It is logical that Bottas and of course his girlfriend will also be at the start on Saturday. Bottas: “Will I win? I’m just participating to challenge myself!”

Source : Blick