Valtteri Bottas, much more than an ambassador for Canyon bikes

While most Formula 1 drivers enjoy a rare Grand Prix-free weekend to recover, Valtteri Bottas often chooses a different form of effort.

Used to speeds exceeding 350 km/h, Valtteri Bottas spends much of his free time on a gravel bike, far from the paddocks and the hustle of F1.

Over the years, cycling has become much more than just a training tool. Introduced to the sport by his partner, professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, the Finn has gradually immersed himself in the world of gravel to the point of becoming a full-fledged competitor. He has been seen at the start of some of the most demanding events on the calendar, such as the SBT Gravel in the United States or the Belgium Waffle Ride.

This passion reached new heights in 2024 when he qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championships. To secure his spot, Bottas had to go through qualifying races, earning his place at the Swartberg 100 in South Africa. This is further proof that he did not benefit from any preferential treatment due to his fame.

Still in the World Elite

In Belgium, on the 182-kilometer world course, the Finnish driver had an experience he still talks about enthusiastically today. Surprisingly for a man who has competed for over ten seasons at the highest level of motorsport: he admitted to being more nervous at the start line of this race than during a Formula 1 Grand Prix. After a day marked by technical sections, queues in the singletracks, and even a flat tire five kilometers from the finish, Bottas nonetheless crossed the finish line in the middle of the pack.

Now an ambassador for the bike brand Canyon Bicycles, Bottas perfectly embodies the connection between the world of high-performance motorsport and endurance cycling. Canyon recently launched a limited edition Grail CFR Valtteri Bottas. But his attachment to cycling goes far beyond this partnership. Over the seasons, he has made it his primary mode of transportation during Grand Prix weekends. Whether in Monaco, Austin, Montreal, or Melbourne, he often chooses to ride his bike to the circuit, explore the surroundings, or carry out his training sessions, taking advantage of every outing to accumulate kilometers.

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What attracts the Finnish driver to gravel goes beyond mere sports. He finds in it the taste for exploration, the joy of discovering new landscapes, and a form of freedom that is hard to find in such a codified environment as Formula 1. Cycling offers him a different challenge but ultimately provides sensations that are quite similar: pushing his limits, managing effort, and continuing to move forward.

A philosophy that explains why, when he steps out of his single-seater, Valtteri Bottas never really slows down.

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