33-Year-Old Valtteri Bottas Goes Back to Childhood Routines To Combat the Stress of F1

We all know Valtteri Bottas as an excellent F1 driver and arguably an even better teammate to Lewis Hamilton. However, there is another sport that he is often associated with. Not only is the Finn dating an Olympian cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell, but he himself is great at the sport too. Ahead of the US GP, he participated in a Gravel bike race, which he won, and now he has explained how he fell in love with this sport.

Like many F1 drivers have their own way of relaxing, for the 33-year-old, cycling works as a stress buster. Recently, looking back in time, the current Alfa Romeo driver revealed that during his childhood he had no issue reaching class, even in the extreme climatic conditions of Finland.

He said, “I was cycling my daily commute to school, even if it was snowing or raining. It was normal for me and so I didn’t find it difficult, I got used to the wet weather.” [Translated using Google]

The Finn describes his love for cycling, in fact, he even competed and won in the ‘Gravel’ bike race in Kansas before the United States Grand Prix. Explaining how Americans have now taken to cycling very enthusiastically, he said, “Gravel racing is growing rapidly and becoming more and more popular, especially in the United States.”

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Explaining how Gravel is different from other road bikes, Valtteri Bottas said, “Most people ride road bikes or mountain bikes, but Gravel gives you the opportunity to explore a bit more, to go on roads without any traffic or anyone. That’s the aspect enjoyable of this discipline.” 

Valtteri Bottas has another strong link to cycling in his private life

Valtteri Bottas is in a relationship with professional cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell. Recently in the very first Gravel world championship, a few weeks ago, Cromwell finished sixth. Other than her illustrious career, Bottas also gives credit to his girlfriend for his enhanced inclination toward sports.

He said, “When I started training more systematically for motorsport, cycling was always part of it for cardio. But when I met Tiffany, my interest took it to the next level.”

Bottas enlightens everyone as he told how the gravel run has led him to push his limits and how he is getting stronger. He said, “It’s painful when your heart rate is at its peak during the two or three hours of a Gravel run, so it’s something that makes you stronger in a way. It is a sport that allows you to push your limits constantly. It’s very satisfying.”

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The passion seems real as the Alfa Romeo driver has created his own Gravel race, FNLD GRVL. The first edition will take place next year. Before that, Valtteri has the last two races on his hands. With an impressive P10 at the Mexican GP, the Finn will look forward to finishing the season at a high.