At 23, Matteo Soueï, an engineering school student in Besançon (Doubs), took on the challenge of discovering a large number of countries by bike. Breaking down prejudices, surpassing oneself, meeting people, so many values that drive the young man in search of adventure.
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Argentina, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan… Matteo Soueï never stops traveling the world on his pedals. For three years, the young man has spent his free time traveling to the four corners of the world.
But far from wanting to do like everyone else, Matteo decided to carry out his stays on his bike, alone, with his tent. “Cycling allows you to be independent, it's a good way to connect with populations, because it intrigues everyone. And then there is also the side of surpassing oneself” explains the young man.
Even in his choice of destinations, Matteo wants to stand out. For him, the main thing is to reach out to different populations “get out of what is Western, go towards a more rudimentary life and discover landscapes that we are not used to seeing.”
His first cycling trip: Kyrgyzstan. A little-known country that sometimes suffers from prejudices that are not always justified. It is precisely these prejudices that Matteo wants to undermine by carrying out his travels. “When we are in these countries, we are always questioning our vision of the world. When we're on these grounds, it's totally different. It allows you to be very open-minded about the world.”, testifies Matteo.
I realize that I am extremely lucky to be in France, the return was a huge shock.
Matteo SoueiTraveling cyclist
For a month, the student from the Supmicrotech engineering school in Besançon traveled through regions that were at times inhospitable and very sparsely populated. But the people he was able to meet left a lasting impression on him.
He camps in remote places, like here in the Uyuni salt desert, in Bolivia
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© MATTEO SOUEI
Human relationships are extremely different. Once, I was sleeping in my tent on the street, and a man came to see me, he took me in, showed me his home, his family, gave me food. They are often very poor people, but they give without counting. It was a moment that moved me a lot.
Matteo, world traveler by bike
In his travels, Matteo will meet local populations, he even goes so far as to learn new languages to chat with them
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© Instagram of Matteo Souei
Going by bike also means communing with nature, with the environment: “I feel a lot of guilt when I take the plane to go on a trip, so I tell myself that for the rest of the journey, being on a bike is at least that” attests the cyclist. “When we are on a bike, we pay extreme attention to nature. We gain a relationship with the environment which is no longer just a decoration, nature becomes a bit like our home, so we try to preserve our home”.
In his adventures, Matteo also and above all wants to surpass himself, to go beyond the limits of his body. He is then confronted with impressive environments. On his first trip to Kyrgyzstan, he found himself at an altitude of 3,800 meters having to cross a raging and icy river with his bike on his back.
When you are alone, you take risks, you are solely responsible for your actions. That's the danger, with experience, we anticipate certain situations, we learn about ourselves
Matteo SoueiTraveling cyclist
He also encountered inhospitable terrain during his six-month trip to South America, from which he recently returned. Matteo thus crossed the Atacama desert in Chile, climbed the Uturunctu volcano in Bolivia which peaks at 5,800m above sea level, etc. Nothing scares him “All these journeys gave birth to a spirit of adventure in me.”
With his bike, Matteo climbed the Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia. It is the highest road in South America which rises to an altitude of 5,800m.
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© MATTEO SOUEI
More than experiencing these adventures, Matteo wants to document them, to ensure that these moments are shared with as many people as possible. So, he photographs, he films and shares these exceptional moments “I want to tell all these stories, break all the stereotypes. Tell the countries as they are without sensationalism” he says. He notably made a short film upon returning from his trip to Kyrgyzstan. “Kaiyrma” also won the Philoxénia prize, which rewards young short film directors.
After more than 8,000 km on a bike, Matteo still has desires and dreams in his head. He is already planning his next trip to Pakistan. Still on his bike, the young boy plans to leave in the summer of 2025 and make his first documentary. Thus, through his breathtaking images, he tries to make as many people as possible travel and dream.
