Monaco-based cyclist Benjamin Bodot has completed one of the world’s most demanding ultra-distance cycling challenges, finishing the 2026 BikingMan IncaDivide after six gruelling days in the Peruvian Andes…
The SBM Offshore employee tackled around 1,200 kilometres through remote mountain terrain, carrying what he needed with him and facing extreme altitude, snow, freezing temperatures and exhaustion. At one point, Bodot found himself suffering from hypothermia beside a fire, wrapped in a blanket and questioning whether he could continue.
Conditions became so severe that organisers removed part of the route after heavy snow made a 5,002-metre pass unsafe. Bodot had already been caught in a snowstorm, which disabled his GPS and forced him to navigate using his phone.
His bicycle also presented challenges, with the rear brake failing after just two days, although he managed to continue.
Rather than competing for victory, Bodot’s objective was to reach the finish. He divided the final 300 kilometres into two sections, riding 175 kilometres before stopping for a much-needed night’s sleep and completing the remaining 125 kilometres the following day.
Crossing the finish line brought an emotional conclusion to an extraordinary adventure marked by physical hardship, moments of doubt and the generosity of local people.
For Bodot, the appeal is ultimately about disconnecting from everyday life, embracing the simplicity of the challenge and concentrating on just one thing: continuing to move forward. Bravo, Bodot!
Image: Monaco Info