MIKA HAKKINEN

The two-time Formula One World Champion has swapped the chicanes of Monaco for its cycle lanes

My first bike wasn’t exactly cutting edge. It was by Tunturi, a Finnish brand - it had pedal brakes (the ones where you backpedal to stop) and no gears. But I was so proud of it. It was around the same time my parents hired a go-kart for me to ride at a local track. The rest, as they say, is history. Where I grew up everybody cycled, it was the number one way to get about. That’s no longer the case, as cars now dominate. Monaco would be perfect for cycle commuting, if only more people chose to do it. I’ve retired and gone to cycling heaven. The south of France is a beautiful place to ride, every spring it still surprises me just how beautiful. For me it’s the go-to place for riding a bike. It’s unconventional, but I like to ride on water too. It’s a sort of static bike fixed to water skis. I’ve taken part in the Riviera Water Bike Challenge - a water bike race run over 21km between Nice and Monaco - which raised funds for the creation of an aquatic rescue centre in Burkina Faso. Former Formula One driver David Coulthard took part too. One of my favourite rides is from St Tropez to Monaco. It’s a 140km route and I have cycled it for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Last year around 150 of us took part including current F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo and pundit Eddie Jordan. Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have ridden it too, it’s the event that starts my cycling season every April. Staying fit was huge for my racing career, and huge in retirement too. Since 2007 when I left competitive motorsport I’ve tried to stay fit in other ways. I play football a little but cycling is important to me and to other athletes I know. As their sports careers end, many of them are still hooked on that feeling of being fit. Cycling doesn’t just keep you fit, it offers an adrenaline rush too. I love the camaraderie. Motor racing is a very solitary sport, so I enjoy riding with friends as it gives me a chance to catch up with them. It’s only since I retired that I’ve started to appreciate the social side of cycling, it’s gone

beyond fitness. 2017 saw me ride my longest ever ride – a three-day, 322km route from Tuscany to Monaco along rolling, hilly landscapes for a UK charity called Caudwell Children. I’ve been associated with them for some years now and seeing the progress and results they deliver for children in need makes me proud to be associated with their work. I was helped along the way by an Olympic cyclist. The charity is run by John Caudwell [who sold Phones4U to focus on philanthropy] and his wife Modesta Vzesniauskaite, she’s a Lithuanian Olympic cyclist who runs cycle tours. She did an amazing job organising this ride. There were 28 riders in all - I rode with John, Modesta and ex-footballer Ashley Ward who helps the cause too. It was a beautiful ride. On day one we rode over 117km through the Tuscan countryside from San Gimignano to Forte dei Marmi. I was so fortunate to be there with great people, in nice scenery, and having very good Italian food for lunch, of course! The next day we were in the saddle for 137km riding to the town of Rapallo, then on the Sunday we headed on to Monaco. In all, it was over 200 miles in three days including 3000m of climbing and some strong coastal winds along the way. In my Formula One career I suffered a few crashes. But I’ve been very fortunate with my bicycle - touch wood - even if sometimes the wet weather conditions have caused a few near-miss situations.

It’s only since I retired that I’ve started to appreciate the social side of cycling, it’s gone beyond fitness