Valtteri Bottas rides 350km through Malaysia on bicycle to get to Singapore Grand Prix
Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas is taking the long, scenic route from Malaysia to Singapore in a 350km cycling ride.
He aims to make the trip in three days, in time for the practice sessions before race day on 11 Oct.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram
F1 driver Bottas rides bicycle from Malaysia to Singapore after failed race
The Finnish driver signed with Cadillac had a disappointing result in the Bahrain Grand Prix, taking place this year in Sepang, Malaysia.
Bottas’ vehicle spun into a gravel trap on Lap 9, giving him a ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF) result.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram
As the drivers and crews headed for Singapore to take part in the Singapore Grand Prix, Bottas made the decision not to make the trip in a car or plane.
Instead, the 37-year-old apparently decided he wasn’t done with gravel yet.
He hopped onto a gravel race bicycle on 4 Oct, and began the incredible 350km trip from Sepang.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram Stories
“Yes, I’m riding to Singapore. On the gravel roads less travelled,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Bottas rides bicycle through pitch black night in Malaysia
On social media, Bottas showed off the beautiful sights of Malaysia he cycled through.
There were quiet dirt paths flanked by trees, and groups of monkeys watching him pass on roads.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram Stories
His Strava tracked him as cycling 56.6km in just over two hours, before stopping at Port Dickson.
Source: Strava via Reddit
On ‘Day 2’, he covered 161.9km in five hours and 46 minutes, with an average speed of 28.1km/h.
Bottas passed through Malacca’s busy streets that day.
He even stopped to photograph a trishaw, decked out with ‘Kuromi’ plushies.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram Stories
At one point, Bottas cycled through an eerie rural forested area, with only his bicycle lamp illuminating the pitch darkness.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram
He reportedly reached Muar, near the northern end of Johor.
Bottas’ bicycle trip estimated to take three days
Several lucky fans even spotted Bottas during his bicycle trip.
One group reacted with laughter and cheers, which allegedly “scared him away”.
Source: @jiaxin._.09 on Threads
A more recent Instagram story showed Bottas enjoying a meal of what appeared to be chicken rice.
Source: @valtteribottas on Instagram Stories
According to Reuters, a Cadillac spokesperson estimated that Bottas’ trip would take three days.
Practice for the Singapore Grand Prix begins on Friday (9 Oct), although he has media commitments on Thursday as well.
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Featured image adapted from @valtteribottas on Instagram Stories, @jiaxin._.09 on Threads, and @valtteribottas on Instagram.
