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There is no question that Juan Pablo Montoya is one of the most talented and accomplished racecar drivers of his generation. Montoya has been winning races all over the world – including two Indianapolis 500s and the Monaco Grand Prix – across four decades. In 2019, he added another piece of hardware to his mantle as he and teammate Dane Cameron captured the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by piloting the No. 6 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 Daytona Prototype to three wins with victories at Mid-Ohio, Detroit and Laguna Seca.

While he is clearly still one of the fastest and skilled drivers in any field, Montoya must also work hard on his physical fitness at this point in his career. So, at age 45, how does the Colombian wheelman stay in shape to beat drivers half his age? Like many other athletes, he turned to cycling.

“I started cycling in 2011 with mountain bikes,” said Montoya. “I love mountain biking. Then I got into road biking a little later and now I do a bit of both. The biggest reason I love cycling, aside from staying in shape, is that it’s a great way to clear your mind. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.”

These are not just neighborhood strolls that Montoya embarks on when he has free time. These are treks befitting someone with his supreme intensity behind the wheel, and that fire translates into rides that many people would be in awe of.

“I typically ride 40-80 miles whenever I hop on the bike,” continued Montoya. “I try to ride four to five times a week, so the mileage really starts to add up.”

Montoya and his Acura Team Penske teammates will resume racing action July 3-4 on the Daytona International Speedway road course typically used only for the Rolex 24 at Daytona – the annual season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This will be a two-hour, 40-minute “sprint” race, the first sports car race on the DIS road course shorter than 24 hours in length since the former Grand-Am Series last contested the Paul Revere 250 in 2009.

With his bicycle training keeping him in top condition during this time away from the track, it’s clear that Montoya will be ready to roll when he takes the next green flag of the 2020 season.