F1 driver Valtteri Bottas burns more than 4,000 calories during mammoth 108-mile gravel bike race... one week before Canadian Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas switched four wheels for two wheels during a week off between Formula 1 races. 

The Stake F1 team Kick Sauber driver revealed he competed in the mammoth 108-mile Unbound Gravel race in Emporia, Kansas over the weekend. 

The 34-year-old finished 33rd out of more than 1,400 riders, placing second in his age group of men aged 30 to 39.  


'Finally got to take part in this big event,' he captioned a social media post Sunday, accompanied by a snap of him holding up his finisher medal. 

'Had fun out there racing bikes for 174km on gravel, and finished second in men 30-39,' he went on. 

Valtteri Bottas competed in the 108-mile Unbound Gravel race in Emporia, Kansas

Valtteri Bottas competed in the 108-mile Unbound Gravel race in Emporia, Kansas

The F1 driver finished 33rd out of more than 1,400 riders, placing second in his age group

The F1 driver finished 33rd out of more than 1,400 riders, placing second in his age group

Bottas also gave a shout out to his girlfriend, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. 

'Big respect for @tiffanycromwell to complete the brutal 200 mile course,' he wrote. 

The former Mercedes ace also shared his results on Strava, revealing he completed the course, which featured 5,000 ft of elevation, in 5 hours and 26 minutes while burning 4,600 calories.  

The Finnish athlete, along with the 19 other drivers on the F1 grid, will return to the track for the Canadian Grand Prix later this week. 

Bottas has had quite an anonymous start to the season, failing to earn a single point thus far, however he's certainly been keeping busy in his downtime. 

His former teammate, Lewis Hamilton, has also been enjoying his time away from the circuit, most recently making an appearance on popular internet series, Hot Ones. 

His girlfriend, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, competed in the 200 mile race

His girlfriend, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, competed in the 200 mile race

Bottas, who now drives for Stake F1 team, is yet to score points this season

Bottas, who now drives for Stake F1 team, is yet to score points this season

During the interview, the seven-time world champion admitted to urinating mid-race on one occasion, while claiming other drivers do it, too. 

'Quite a lot of drivers, as far as I'm aware, pee in the car. I've drunk a lot before. Just before I get in the car I go as many times as possible right up until the last minute but I just can't bring myself to pee myself,' he said in the episode, which dropped earlier this week. 

'I have once. It was Singapore, oh god, and it was like two or three years ago. The safety car came out and I was behind it and I was like "I'm dying." Honestly, when your bladder is full with the g-force you're pulling it's really, really uncomfortable," he explained. 

'You just can't focus on your job so I remember trying to go and I really had to force it. It's really hard. But luckily I haven't had to do it - only once.'