Salvadoran Cyclist Chepe Ruiz Nears Completion of Ambitious Round-the-World Journey
A Salvadoran athlete is on the cusp of achieving a remarkable feat: circumnavigating the globe by bicycle. Chepe Ruiz, originally from Ahuachapán Sur, embarked on this extraordinary adventure on April 1, 2024, from the Netherlands, and has since traversed 25 countries, accumulating over 30,000 kilometers on the very same bicycle he began with.
The journey, demanding immense physical endurance, meticulous planning, and unwavering personal motivation, is not yet complete. Ruiz anticipates reaching his final eleven countries by August 2026, when he intends to return to his starting point. His remaining route includes Venezuela, Brazil, Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium.
Beyond the sheer distance, Ruiz’s expedition has been fraught with challenges. He has faced harsh weather conditions, difficult terrain, language barriers, food insecurity, and bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining visas. However, a serious accident involving his traveling companion proved to be the most impactful setback.
A Harrowing Accident in Panama
On October 8, while cycling through Panama, Ruiz and his companion, Dutch athlete and author Marica Van Der Meer, experienced a frightening incident. The pair had ascended a mountain reaching approximately 1,300 meters in altitude. During the descent, Van Der Meer lost contact with Ruiz and subsequently lost control of her bicycle, crashing into the pavement and falling unconscious.
Ruiz described the scene as one of the most difficult moments of the entire trip. “When I arrived she was already unconscious, when I tried to get her up she was with her eyes open and not breathing. I started to cry, rubbing her chest; she was no longer breathing until she managed to snore. Her eyes were not moving, they were fixed, looking at nothing,” he recounted.
Quick action by passing teachers who provided immediate first aid, and a concerned traveler who transported Van Der Meer to a care center 60 kilometers away, proved crucial. She remained hospitalized for ten days, undergoing surgery to repair eight fractured ribs and a broken collarbone.
Both Ruiz and Van Der Meer are currently recovering in Panama and plan to resume their journey on January 8, heading towards the Venezuelan border. Van Der Meer’s injuries are expected to delay the completion of their tour by approximately four months.
A Lifelong Pursuit of Adventure
This isn’t Ruiz’s first ambitious cycling expedition. He previously completed a two-year journey between January 14, 2018, and 2020, covering 20,500 kilometers from San Francisco Menéndez to Uruguay. That trip was fueled by his daughter’s dream of studying medicine in a country offering free education to international students. In 2023, he also cycled over 900 kilometers across various European nations during a vacation. In total, Ruiz has now logged more than 51,400 kilometers on two wheels.
Despite experiencing physical strain – including pain in his neck, knees, and elbows – Ruiz remains resolute. He views cycling as a powerful means of representing El Salvador on a global stage.
“Many people dream of traveling the world, in any way, and mine has been the bicycle. I have tried to be the first Salvadoran to travel the world by bicycle with the goal that the world knows a Salvadoran. I want to be an example Salvadoran: be honest, good, respect people, honest. I want to bring a good example of a Salvadoran to the world,” Ruiz stated.
Originally from the Garita Palmera canton, Ruiz continues to pedal forward, hoping his story will inspire fellow Salvadorans to push their own boundaries and pursue their dreams, no matter how challenging.
With reports from El Diario de Hoy.
