Bottas completes 419km cycle from Malaysia to Singapore

Valtteri Bottas reached Singapore on Wednesday after cycling roughly 419 kilometres from Malaysia, replacing a flight between Formula 1 rounds with a journey through gravel tracks and jungle. BBC Sport reported that the Cadillac driver began riding only hours after spinning out of Sunday's race at Sepang, near Kuala Lumpur.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngR9dYS8iC0

The trip included several wildlife encounters, Bottas told reporters. According to a dpa report carried by Bernama, he saw a cobra and a python crossing his route, had to jump his bicycle over a large lizard spotted late on the path, and was chased by a dog. A group of cows also blocked his progress along a narrow track.

Speaking about the planning, Bottas said the idea began with a joking suggestion from his partner, cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, RACER reported. He then checked the distance, road conditions and available time before setting out a daily itinerary. The result was a planned cycling journey between race venues, rather than simply an improvised alternative to air travel.

Recovery shaped that schedule. In comments reported by RACER, Bottas explained that he placed the two longest riding days on Monday and Tuesday to leave more time before his driving duties resumed. Wednesday's final stage was shorter and served as a recovery ride. He said a heavy day that late in the week could have affected his readiness for Friday, with Thursday also available for an easier day.

Bottas described cycling through the jungle after dark as the most unsettling part of the journey. Bernama's dpa report said the surrounding noises prompted him to wonder what animals might be nearby, although he kept riding. His account distinguished those night-time worries from the snakes he actually saw, which he described as going about their own business.

BBC Sport reported that Bottas had qualified for the Gravel World Championships by placing fifth in his age group at an event in the Czech Republic during Formula 1's summer break. However, the championships clash with his Singapore race commitments. Despite earning that cycling opportunity, his competitive duties this weekend remain with Cadillac.