His expedition includes braving the isolated expanses of Canada’s northern territories, where extreme cold and solitude will test his ultimate determination before reaching Alaska.
Doha – After completing his cycling journey to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, 24-year-old Moroccan cyclist Salaheddine Benarym has embarked on an even more ambitious expedition.
On Tuesday, he set out from Ushuaia, Argentina, on a remarkable 24,000-kilometer bicycle journey that will take him to Alaska over the next two years.
Benarym, a recent graduate in financial management from Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, plans to time his journey to coincide with the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. “This combines my two great passions: cycling and football,” he told media.
The journey is supported by sponsors including Sidi Ali, BMCI Foundation, Tibu Africa, and the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), and will take him through 14 countries.
Despite the backing, Benarym acknowledges his parents’ concerns about the risks involved.
“It’s natural for my parents to worry. They worry even if I’m just outside our house. So imagine when I’m thousands of kilometers away in countries I don’t yet know,” he said.
Benarym’s route begins in dramatic fashion, amid the untamed winds of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia that set the tone for a journey defined by grit and grandeur.
He plans to cycle between 80 and 120 kilometers daily, traversing diverse terrains including the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the rainforests of Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama.
The journey will also serve as an immersive language learning experience for him. “I will spend a year and a half crossing Spanish-speaking countries where I plan to improve my Spanish,” Benarym explained.
After the 2026 World Cup, his route will continue through the Sonora Desert and the American West before heading into Canada’s Rocky Mountains and ultimately reaching Alaska. The entire journey is expected to take two years to complete.
Benarym views his expedition as more than a personal challenge. “This carries an indirect message to young people: you must fight for your dreams and never give up when facing challenges,” he said.
The young cyclist, who is famous on social media, is taking his thousands of followers on the journey alongside him, as he attempts to demonstrate that “nothing is impossible.”
BY: The Times Union
