Proudly sporting the logo of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Valtteri Bottas has added another feather to his cap by completing the Swartberg 100 bike race in a time that has earned the Finnish driver a spot at the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships.
In-between races in China and Miami, Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas flew out to South Africa to take part in the nation’s premier gravel bike race, Swartberg 100, on 27th April.
The 170-kilometre and 2900m elevation challenge is held in the hills surrounding the town of Prince Albert, a coincidental tie to one of the charities the F1 driver chose to support during the race.
Bottas’ kit was emblazoned with the logo of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation as well as that of the local South African branch, and he later shared the news that the outfit will soon be auctioned off in benefit of “the great causes the foundation supports”.
“Solid day out… Beautiful and scenic course!” he posted on social media following the race. ” I finished sixth in my age group meaning I [have] qualified for the gravel world champs. Tiffany Cromwell was the hero of the day and won the women’s race.”
His partner is a professional Australian road and gravel cyclist, and currently rides for the UCI Women’s WorldTeam Canyon–SRAM. The pair live together in the Principality of Monaco.
Fortunately for the Kick Sauber driver, the UCI Gravel World Championships will take place in early October, falling neatly between the Singapore Grand Prix at the end of September and the USA Grand Prix in Austin several weeks later.
Local representatives for the South African branch of Princess Charlene’s eponymous foundation congratulated the two athletes on their achievements via social media: “A big thank you goes out to Valtteri Bottas for representing PCMFSA and the Fondation Princesse Charlene at Swartberg 100. Congratulations to Valtteri Bottas for securing a spot in the UCI Gravel World Championships, and kudos to Tiffany Cromwell for clinching victory at the Swartberg 100!”
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Photo credit: Johan Badenhorst