Finnish F1 driver Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team) is used to standing on the podium at the end of a race, he has stood on the top step an impressive nine times during his F1 career.  This past weekend he once again stood on the podium, but this time it was at a gravel bike race where he finished second in his age category. 

Taking a summer break from the high-pressure F1 racing environment, 31 year-old Bottas was using the 64-mile SBT GRVL race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado USA for cross-training and relaxation during a vacation with his partner, Australian pro cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.  

Bottas, riding a Canyon gravel bike (not some prototype custom Mercedes), also finished an impressive 5th overall out of 500+riders with a time of 3:16:34 on the 64-mile route with 4100 feet of vertical climbing and descending.

Afterwards, he commented on riding his first gravel event, “What a great event yesterday. Enjoyed my first grave race a lot!”

His short summer gravel racing season will end on 29 August when he returns to F1 racing at the Belgian Gran Prix to compete for the overall F1 Driver Championship, where he currently sits in 4th place. 

PHOTOS: SBT GRVL, F1

Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar