Cadillac Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas is well-known for his love of cycling as a means of relaxation and training between races, but the fan-favorite racer just took his passion to an entirely legendary level ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
Instead of taking a standard flight or comfortable car ride down south after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Bottas decided to cycle an epic 350-kilometer route straight from the Sepang International Circuit all the way to Singapore, battling tropical heat, dark plantations, and wild Malaysian wildlife along the way.
Bottas praises M’sians for their support during his cycling adventure
Despite the challenging heat and humidity, Valtteri Bottas had plenty of praise for Malaysians, saying locals were supportive and respectful throughout his cycling adventure across the country.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS Asia in an interview shared on YouTube, the Cadillac F1 driver said people began recognising him and cheering him on as news of his journey spread, with some even offering him water along the way.
“The locals, they were so lovely. You know, even on the road sections, the cars, they were really polite. And yeah, towards the end, day three and four especially, there were many people who recognised me and they were cheering me on and giving water and stuff, and really nice,” Bottas shared.
Beyond the support from Malaysians, the journey also gave Bottas the chance to experience the country’s natural landscapes, from jungles to plantations, while sampling local food along the way.
He also said he loved Malaysia’s rice dishes and particularly enjoyed cycling at night, when he could hear the sounds of wildlife in the jungle.
Spots cobra, python & lizards during cycling adventure in Malaysia
In a separate interview with beIN SPORTS Asia, also shared on YouTube, Bottas explained that his cycling adventure was carefully planned with the help of his bike brand partner, Canyon, and two local route planners. A support vehicle also stayed nearby in case he needed assistance, although he spent most of the journey riding alone.
He said the daily distances were planned to allow him enough time to recover before the Singapore Grand Prix, with Bottas saying that the final stretches were manageable for him as someone accustomed to long rides.
However, cycling through Malaysia’s jungles after dark brought some unexpected encounters, including a cobra, a python, lizards and a dog that chased him.
“Some moments were a little bit more stressful in the dark, you know, just with the light, you know, you can’t see that far. You don’t know what’s out there in the wild. But I overcome any fears or anything. So, I’m very happy that I did the ride. It was an adventure and I saw a lot,” he said.
Despite these encounters, the Finnish driver said he was glad he took on the challenge, which allowed him to see Malaysia’s natural landscapes and experience the country beyond the usual race weekend routine.
“I’m really glad I did it because I saw pretty much the whole of Malaysia in two days, you know, and the wild side of it, like the jungles, the plantations, yeah, a bit of riding at night as well. It was an adventure,” Bottas said.
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Also read: F1 Driver Valtteri Bottas Cycles 350km From Malaysia To Singapore Grand Prix
