Valtteri Bottas and partner Tiffany Cromwell are bringing their RADL GRVL bike race back to South Australia
F1 star Valtteri Bottas has barely hid his love for Australia. And after not feeling the love in his home country Finland he is heading back to SA with his bike race. WATCH THE VIDEO
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HE is one of Finland’s most famous exports, but Formula One star Valtteri Bottas has revealed that he is no longer feeling the love in his home country and is desperate to return to Australia.
In a video announcing the return of bike race RADL GRVL - which he runs with his girlfriend professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell - to South Australia as part of the 2025 Tour Down Under, an ‘emotional’ Bottas is shown no longer getting attention in Finland.
“They used to love me here,” he said through tears.
“Like I don’t know what is going on, Finland was Valtteri’s.”
As part of this it is shown that Cromwell was getting the love in Finland, prompting Bottas to ask if they could go back to her hometown of Adelaide for the second ever RADL GRVL.
The Stake F1 team driver has barely hid his love of Australia, getting a mullet and bleaching it blonde, partnering with beer company VB and also embracing the iconic budgie smugglers.
But this might be toned down, with Cromwell telling her partner to “stop being such a bogan, you are embarrassing”.
On top of his “day job” as a F1 driver, Bottas is also an avid cyclist and has qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championships in early October in the 35-39 age group.
Bottas said he could not wait to bring his gravel bike race back to Adelaide.
“I’ve never been shy about my love for South Australia; I absolutely love riding there and love the culture that Adelaide has, especially as a cycling destination,” he said.
“I had so much fun riding alongside not only South Australians but those who came from all over to be there.
“I’m excited to have the course travel once again through what I think is some of the best wine country in the world, and we have some new exciting things planned for the 2025 event.”
This year was the first time RADL GRVL has been held, joining other events Bottas, Cromwell and Amy Charity of GRVL Events have run in Colorado (SBT GRVL) and Finland (FNLD GRVL).
Held on a mix of sealed and gravel roads across McLaren Vale, the pilot RADL GRVL was sold out and attracted hundreds of professional and amateur cyclists.
The second edition of the event will take place from January 22 to 26 during the 2025 TDU.
The main event, the competitive gravel race, will take place on January 23 and before that there will be an engaging schedule of ride-outs, expo, pro panels and activities.
This year’s edition had a budgie smuggler ride to kick it off, as well as a costume ride.
Cromwell said it was an event for every level.
“We want this event to feel friendly and accessible to anyone who wants to have a go. You don’t need to be a professional athlete or to have even competed before,” she said.
“It’s about the camaraderie and fun that comes from riding with friends and exploring this incredible countryside.”
Registrations for RADL GRVL and its events will open on September 2.
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