Bottas begins planned 350km ride from Sepang to Singapore

Valtteri Bottas has begun a planned 350km cycle from Sepang to Singapore rather than fly between back-to-back Formula 1 rounds. GPBeat reports that he covered 56.6km on the first stage and 161.91km on Monday’s second stage; he aims to reach Singapore in time for Thursday’s mandatory media commitments.

GPBeat · Newsroom06 Oct 2026, 08:21 · 1 min

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Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas began a planned 350km bike ride from Sepang to Singapore on Sunday evening, choosing to cycle rather than fly between back-to-back Grands Prix.

A few hours earlier, he had spun in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at Sepang.

RacingNews365 Nederland reported, citing Bottas’s Strava account, that the first stage from the circuit to Port Dickson covered 56.6km in two hours and eight minutes. On Monday’s second stage, he spent nearly six hours riding and covered 161.91km.

Much of the route is off-road and on gravel, and Bottas is riding with his partner, professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Cycling has become one of his main pursuits away from F1; he co-founded the gravel events FNLD GRVL in Finland and RADL GRVL in Australia.

Bottas qualified for the 2026 Gravel World Championships after finishing in the top five of his age category in the UCI Gravel World Series. The championships fall on the same weekend as the Singapore Grand Prix, so he will be unable to take up his place.

Motorsport.com reports that Bottas plans to complete the journey in stages and aims to reach Singapore in time for Thursday’s mandatory media commitments.

Claims and supporting evidence 9

Bottas began a planned 350km cycle from Sepang to Singapore on Sunday evening, choosing to ride rather than fly between back-to-back Grands Prix.

Motorsport.com gives the planned route, distance and choice to cycle rather than fly; RacingNews365 Nederland dates the start to Sunday evening.

[3][4]

A few hours before setting off, Bottas spun in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at Sepang.

RacingNews365 Nederland reports the spin a few hours before his Sunday-evening start; the FIA final classification identifies Sepang as the venue.

[4][1]

The first stage from the circuit to Port Dickson covered 56.6km in two hours and eight minutes.

RacingNews365 Nederland attributes these first-stage details to Bottas's Strava account.

[4]

Bottas covered 161.91km in nearly six hours on Monday's second stage.

BBC Sport reports the distance and duration for the second stage on Monday.

[2]

Much of the route is off-road and on gravel, and Bottas is riding with his partner, professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.

BBC Sport describes the route and identifies Cromwell as Bottas's partner and a professional cyclist.

[2]

Cycling has become one of Bottas's main pursuits away from F1; he co-founded FNLD GRVL in Finland and RADL GRVL in Australia.

BBC Sport describes cycling as one of Bottas's main pursuits; RacingNews365 Nederland reports his roles in the two gravel events.

[2][4]

Bottas qualified for the 2026 Gravel World Championships after a top-five finish in his age category in the UCI Gravel World Series.

RacingNews365 Nederland reports the qualification and top-five finish.

[4]

The Gravel World Championships coincide with the Singapore Grand Prix, so Bottas will be unable to use his place.

BBC Sport reports both the schedule clash and its consequence for Bottas's place.

[2]

Bottas plans to complete the journey in stages and aims to reach Singapore in time for Thursday's mandatory media commitments.

Motorsport.com describes the staged plan and Thursday arrival target.

[3]

This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.