From Sepang to Singapore by bike: Bottas completes mammoth 350km journey before Grand Prix

In a unique arrival for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, Cadillac F1 driver Valtteri Bottas cycled 350km from Sepang to Singapore, eschewing the usual arrival by private jet.

Accompanied by Shaiful Nizam Yahya, Bottas concluded his journey by crossing the Causeway into Singapore, despite his earlier retirement from the Bahrain Grand Prix.

His endeavor attracted local cycling enthusiasts, including Singapore resident Wilfred Diepeveen, who joined Bottas on part of his journey to raise awareness for the Tour de Cure initiative.

The Singapore Grand Prix will take place from October 9 to 11, with Bottas and teammate Sergio Perez ranked 22nd and 23rd respectively.

SINGAPORE, Oct 7 — He’s finally arrived in Singapore for the Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix, but not in the way most drivers do.

Days after drivers from various F1 teams touched down on private jets and began pre-race fan engagements, Cadillac F1 driver Valtteri Bottas crossed the Causeway this afternoon after completing a 350km cycling journey from Sepang.

AsiaOne tracked the 37-year-old Finn as he crossed the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at about 2.20pm.

By 2.40pm, with traffic moving smoothly along the Causeway, Bottas was seen riding past Woodlands Crossing.

He was still accompanied by Shaiful Nizam Yahya, who has been by his side since the 350km journey from Sepang International Circuit began on Sunday night.

Despite retiring early from the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang after spinning into the gravel on a wet track, Bottas wasted little time starting his own “Singapore race”, clocking 56.6km in 128 minutes shortly after the chequered flag.

The Finn reached Johor’s Kulai yesterday evening.

Any suggestion that the 37-year-old might have been feeling the effects of the long ride was quickly dispelled when he flashed a broad smile and the victory sign to AsiaOne photojournalist Danial Zahrin, first after Woodlands Crossing and again along Woodlands Road.

From Tanah Merah to Woodlands for Bottas

Singapore resident Wilfred Diepeveen, 41, was seen waiting patiently for Bottas and Shaiful at Woodlands Crossing at about 2.10pm.

Originally from the Netherlands, the certified fitness coach has lived in the Republic for 12 years and is an avid cyclist.

He told AsiaOne that he had cycled from Tanah Merah to Woodlands in hopes of catching Bottas.

“I just wanted to cycle with him to his destination.”

The 41-year-old completed a similar journey in April, albeit in the opposite direction, cycling from MG Singapore’s showroom in Leng Kee to Kuala Lumpur.

The trip was to support Tour de Cure, a global initiative that raises funds and awareness for cancer research.

As Bottas and Shaiful came into view at Woodlands Crossing, Wilfred set off on his road bike.

His wish appeared to be granted, with the trio later seen cycling uphill together past a bus stop near Kranji War Memorial.

The Singapore Grand Prix takes place at Marina Bay from October 9 to 11.

Bottas and Cadillac teammate Sergio Perez are ranked 22nd and 23rd respectively. — AsiaOne

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在F1新加坡大奖赛上，凯迪拉克F1车手瓦尔特里·博塔斯以一种独特的方式抵达：他骑自行车从雪邦出发，行程350公里到达新加坡，而不是像往常一样乘坐私人飞机抵达。

尽管博塔斯此前已从巴林大奖赛退赛，但他还是在沙伊夫·尼扎姆·叶海亚的陪同下，穿过堤道进入新加坡，结束了他的旅程。

他的行动吸引了当地的自行车爱好者，其中包括新加坡居民威尔弗雷德·迪佩文，他与博塔斯一起完成了部分旅程，以提高人们对“环法自行车赛”倡议的认识。

新加坡大奖赛将于 10 月 9 日至 11 日举行，博塔斯和队友塞尔吉奥·佩雷斯分别排名第 22 位和第 23 位。

新加坡，10 月 7 日——他终于抵达新加坡参加一级方程式 (F1) 新加坡大奖赛，但他的抵达方式与大多数车手不同。

在各支 F1 车队的赛车手乘坐私人飞机抵达并开始赛前与车迷互动几天后，凯迪拉克 F1 车手瓦尔特里·博塔斯今天下午完成了从雪邦出发的 350 公里自行车之旅，并穿越了堤道。

亚洲新闻网追踪到这名 37 岁的芬兰男子于下午 2 点 20 分左右穿过苏丹伊斯坎达尔海关、移民和检疫 (CIQ) 大楼。

下午 2 点 40 分，堤道上的交通顺畅，有人看到博塔斯骑车经过伍德兰兹十字路口。

沙伊夫·尼扎姆·叶海亚仍然陪伴在他身边，自周日晚上从雪邦国际赛道出发的 350 公里旅程开始以来，沙伊夫·尼扎姆·叶海亚就一直陪伴在他身边。

尽管博塔斯在巴林雪邦大奖赛上因在湿滑赛道上打滑冲出赛道而提前退赛，但他很快就开始了自己在新加坡的“比赛”，在方格旗挥动后不久，就以 128 分钟的成绩跑完了 56.6 公里。

芬兰人昨晚抵达柔佛州古来。

任何关于这位 37 岁男子可能因长途骑行而感到疲惫的说法，在他经过兀兰十字路口和兀兰路时，都迅速被他向 AsiaOne 摄影记者 Danial Zahrin 露出的灿烂笑容和胜利手势所打消。

从丹那美拉到兀兰，博塔斯

41岁的新加坡居民威尔弗雷德·迪佩文于下午2点10分左右在兀兰十字路口耐心等待博塔斯和沙伊夫。

这位来自荷兰的认证健身教练已经在爱尔兰共和国生活了12年，并且是一位狂热的自行车爱好者。

他告诉AsiaOne，他骑自行车从丹那美拉到兀兰，希望能追上博塔斯。

“我只是想骑车陪他到目的地。”

这位 41 岁的男子在 4 月份完成了一次类似的旅程，不过方向相反，他骑自行车从新加坡 Leng Kee 的 MG 展厅前往吉隆坡。

此次旅行是为了支持“环法抗癌之旅”（Tour de Cure），这是一项为癌症研究筹集资金和提高公众意识的全球性活动。

当博塔斯和沙伊富尔出现在伍德兰兹十字路口时，威尔弗雷德骑上了他的公路自行车出发了。

他的愿望似乎实现了，后来有人看到这三人一起骑车上坡，经过克兰芝战争纪念碑附近的一个公交车站。

新加坡大奖赛将于10月9日至11日在滨海湾举行。

博塔斯和他的凯迪拉克队友塞尔吉奥·佩雷斯分别排名第22和第23位。——亚洲新闻网

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