This 20-Year-Old College Student Just Smashed the Pan-American Highway World Record

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He made it.

After 75 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes, 20-year-old Bond Almand arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina, becoming the fastest cyclist to ride from Alaska to Argentina on the the Pan-American Highway.

Although his time hasn’t been validated by Guinness World Records yet, Almand will likely claim the world record for “the fastest cycle journey of the Pan-American Highway.” The current record of 84 days, 11 hours and 50 minutes was previously set in 2018 by Austrian Michael Strasser, who was fully supported during his journey.

Guinness doesn’t differentiate between supported and self-supported, but no matter — Almand’s self-supported attempt is faster than both Strasser’s supported time, as well as Leandro Carlos da Silva’s self-supported time of 95 days.

The Pan-American Highway ^{is a network of roads stretching across the Americas, measuring about 30,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) in total length. Except for a break of about 100 km (60 mi) between Colombia and Panama known as the Darién Gap, the roads link most of the Pacific coastal countries of North, Central, and South America in a connected highway system.}

Almand, who is a junior at Dartmouth College, set off on his world record attempt on August 31, 2024. He rode through Alaska, Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama before hopping a flight to Colombia.

Once in South America, Almand traced the Pacific coast through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, before moving inland to ride to the highway’s southern terminus in Argentina.

According to Almand, there was some flexibility in the exact route.

“The only parameters are that the route starts in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska — sometimes called Deadhorse — and finishes in Ushuaia, Argentina,” he said. “One must fly over the Darien Gap, so the route requires a flight from Panama City to Cartagena, Colombia. Since this flight goes northeast, it actually makes the route longer than it would be if there were a road to bike between Panama and Colombia.

“Besides the flight and starting and ending points, it’s a total choose your own adventure route, which is part of what makes it so cool. I was constantly rerouting as I went, making day by day calls based on winds and other conditions.”

In some ways, the closer Almand got to the finish line in Argentina, the farther away it seemed. He faced demoralizing headwinds throughout the entirety of his trip. Although his spirit flagged seriously when his daily mileage decreased due to conditions, he still managed to average some 179 miles per day.

Almand also had his share of mechanicals, the most catastrophic of which happened in Nicaragua on day 35 when he cracked his frame after riding into a pothole. His ride was salvaged by the kindness of a stranger named Lenar, a mechanic at Bicimania in Managua, who sold Almand his personal Giant TCR.

Almand also experienced incredibly dangerous roads, especially in Mexico and Peru, but was rewarded with more courteous drivers when riding through Argentina.

Almand chronicled his journey in detail on both a personal blog and Strava. After he spends some serious time recovering at home in Tennessee, he’ll return to Hanover, New Hampshire in January to resume his studies in government and climate policy.

Bond Almand’s Pan-American Highway World Record Stats

Date departed from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: August 31, 2024

Date arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina: November 15, 2024

Total miles ridden: 13,595 miles

Total elevation gain: 541,735 feet.

Daily average ridden: 179.5 miles per day

Total hours of ride time: ~840 hours

Total time: 75d, 17hr, 55min

Average moving speed: ~16.2 mph

Past supported record: 84 days, 11 hours and 50 minutes

Past self-supported record: 95 days

Number of bicycle frames used: 2

Number of flats: 31

Number of collisions with vehicles: 3

Cases of food poisoning: 3

Months at the top of the Strava Monthly Distance Challenge: September, October, November

Strava KOM trophies won along the route: 15

Records broken: 4 (self-supported FKT from US-Canada border to US-Mexico border, record from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Panama City, Panama, record from Cartagena, Colombia to Ushuaia, Argentina, and Pan-Am record from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Ushuaia, Argentina)