Valtteri Bottas particularly enjoys the Lahti region’s outdoors with a gravel bike. The inaugural FNLD GRVL cycling event in 2023 showcased some of Europe’s finest gravel roads – hundreds of kilometers of which can be found in and around Lahti. The Finnish and Lahti region’s nature offers Bottas a way to relax from a busy athlete’s life, while enjoying clean air, pure waters and peaceful surroundings.
– The Lahti region has the best gravel roads in Europe and excellent opportunities to exercise sport in nature. I’m happy I can enjoy them in both summer and winter. My international friends and followers have been delighted with Lahti’s nature, the Salpausselkä terrain and Finnish culture as well. We can highlight all of these through events and personal experiences,” says Valtteri Bottas.
The City of Lahti and the local tourism organization Visit Lahti have invited Valtteri Bottas to serve as a sports ambassador who shares the joy of outdoor sports worldwide. The Lahti region’s established trail network and still-undiscovered gravel routes and ski tracks offer memorable experiences for both seasoned athletes and beginners alike.
To celebrate the city’s 120th anniversary this spring, Lahti launched two new gravel cycling routes. The longer route covers 120 kilometers, while the shorter one offers a 40-kilometer (or 120-minute) ride. The routes, available in the city’s map service, showcase lake views, rolling landscapes, forest paths, and countryside gravel roads.
Niko Kyynäräinen, the Mayor of City of Lahti, is proud of the city’s reputation as a destination for outdoor activities and sees Bottas as a perfect ambassador for a region where sports, recreation, and tourism are being developed sustainably and with a strong sense of responsibility.
– Appointing Valtteri as Lahti’s sports ambassador feels like a natural choice. He enjoys the local nature and the opportunities it provides for both summer and winter activities. In his words, you hear about Salpausselkä, trails, gravel roads, and clean air—not to mention our waters,” says Kyynäräinen.
This coming weekend, the Lahti region will host FNLD TRVL, a casual “social ride” style gravel cycling event, offering 58 km and 110 km route options. The event is not a race—no timing or results are recorded. Around 100 cyclists from 13 different countries have registered to take part in FNLD TRVL.
More information
Mayor Niko Kyynäräinen, +358 50 559 0538
CEO Raija Forsman, Visit Lahti – raija.forsman@lahtiregion.fi, +358 40 516 2803