Source: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
[Saba Sports News] As a cycling enthusiast, Valtteri Bottas of the Sauber F1 Team participated in the two-day UCI Gravel World Championships held in Belgium. It is reported that Bottas registered for the men’s 35-39 age group competition and completed the 182.8 km event with a time of 5:40.04. A total of 232 competitors participated in this category, with 202 finishing the race. During the race, Bottas encountered a tire blowout just 5 kilometers from the finish line and was forced to stop to repair his tire; this incident cost him a chance at a medal, and he ultimately finished in 133rd place. Before the race began, Bottas admitted that participating in cycling competitions felt “more nerve-wracking than before an F1 race” because this event would last for six hours. Bottas believes that enjoying cycling allows him to temporarily escape from the busy world of F1. For Bottas at this point, F1 is just a job; cycling is his true love. After divorcing his ex-wife, Bottas followed his girlfriend into cycling. Due to his good performance, he has reached a level comparable to professional cyclists. Perhaps for Bottas, F1 no longer holds enough allure; the thrill brought by two-wheeled cycling is far more exciting than F1.