Two young Italians, thousands of kilometres to cover, and a dream that takes them from Washington, D.C., all the way to Panama. This is the story of an extraordinary cycling adventure across the Americas, driven by the desire to discover new horizons, push personal limits, and experience first-hand the remarkable generosity of the people they meet along the way.

Sasha Galli, 24, originally from the Lake Como area, and Mattia Santoro, 23, born in Naples, have been friends for years, sharing a bond that began on the football pitch. Before embarking on their cycling journey across the Americas, both were living ordinary lives in Italy, yet each felt the need for a change. In 2023, Sasha experienced a significant personal turning point that led him to dedicate himself full-time to cycling adventures, transforming his passion into a way of life. Mattia, meanwhile, was working in catering while attending university, but the monotony of his daily routine and his difficult experiences in the workplace gradually made him realise that he wanted something different. After completing his studies and leaving his job, he decided to take a new direction and set off to discover the world. Although their paths were different, both were driven by the same desire to break free from routine, challenge themselves, and discover a new sense of freedom through cycling.

How did your passion for cycling and travel begin, and what led you to embark on this adventure across the Americas together? How did the idea of crossing the continent come about, and why did you choose a bicycle as your way of exploring the world?

Our passion for cycling developed at different times, but our friendship played a fundamental role in bringing us together for this adventure. We have known each other for most of our lives. Long before we started travelling together, we played football and shared countless everyday moments back in Italy. Neither of us could have imagined that, a few years later, we would find ourselves on the other side of the world, riding our bicycles across the Americas with the goal of reaching Panama. For me, Sasha, the desire to set off on a cycling adventure began in 2019. At the time, I was planning to reach Munich, Germany, with two friends. I was excited by the idea because I wanted to challenge myself and discover how far we could go on two wheels. Unfortunately, our parents did not give us permission to undertake such a journey, so for two consecutive years we had to settle for cycling as far as Milan instead. Even so, the desire to leave never disappeared. The idea stayed with me, and in 2023 I decided to revisit it, turning what had once been little more than a possibility into something much more concrete. From that moment on, cycling trips became an essential part of my life, and I never really stopped. Before embarking on this journey across the Americas, I had already completed several significant routes, including the Giro d’Italia and a solo tour of Europe. This adventure marks my seventh cycling trip, and every time I set off, I feel there is still something new waiting to be discovered. For me, Mattia, the journey was a little different. I truly rediscovered cycling in 2024, when I took my first trip to Switzerland with Sasha. That experience changed my perspective and helped me realise that a bicycle could be much more than a simple means of getting from one place to another. I began to see it as a way to discover the world, experience authentic moments and feel free. The sense of freedom I experience when travelling by bicycle is difficult to explain to someone who has never tried it. For me, it means being able to set off, follow an unfamiliar road and discover what awaits me, day after day. I have always wanted to do something meaningful, challenge myself and live experiences that would leave a lasting mark on my life. I never really pictured myself spending my entire working life confined to an office. I felt the need to do something different, step outside my comfort zone and discover just how far I could go. The idea of crossing the Americas was mine. It was a dream I had cherished since childhood, something I had always hoped to make a reality one day. Back in Italy, I was working in canteens while studying at university, but over time my life had become monotonous and repetitive. I felt trapped in a daily routine that no longer gave me the fulfilment I was looking for, and I needed a change of scenery. Once I had completed my studies and left my job, I decided it was time to do something for myself and set off to explore the world. Crossing the Americas seemed like the right way to take on a major challenge, break away from routine and finally experience the adventure I had been imagining for years. When I shared the idea with Sasha, he was immediately enthusiastic. He already had considerably more experience with bicycle touring, and I knew he would understand what a project like this could mean. Initially, Sasha was considering a trip to Asia, perhaps spending a longer period in India. However, the opportunity to cross the Americas immediately captured his imagination. From that point on, we began planning the route together, gradually expanding the original idea. We decided not to limit ourselves to the United States, but to include Canada as well and continue through Central America, with the ultimate goal of reaching Panama. Although we started out with different personal motivations, we found a dream that brought us together. For me, Mattia, this adventure represents an opportunity to break away from monotony and prove to myself that I can build a different kind of life. For me, Sasha, it is the continuation of a passion that has grown increasingly important over the years, a way to keep exploring and challenging myself. Today, we are sharing the same road, facing difficulties together and discovering something new every day. We do not always know what lies ahead, but that is precisely what makes this journey so special: the opportunity to embrace the unexpected, meet people from different cultures and experience things we probably could never have imagined had we stayed in Italy.

He also tells us that…

On July 23, Sasha Galli and Mattia Santoro left Washington, D.C., with an ambitious goal: to reach Panama by bicycle. Their planned route stretches approximately 17,000 kilometres across the Americas, taking them first into Canada before returning to the United States through Detroit and Chicago. At the time of the interview, they had reached St. Louis, Missouri, the previous day and were travelling along the legendary Route 66. With approximately 4,000 kilometres completed and another 13,000 ahead, Mattia was particularly looking forward to Los Angeles, a city he had dreamed of visiting for years, alongside New York. The decision to explore the Americas came from a shared desire to travel far from home and discover places they had previously experienced only through screens. Sasha was particularly interested in the continent’s diversity and the cultural contrasts between neighbouring countries such as the United States and Mexico. The opportunity to see familiar settings from American television in person was another powerful incentive. For Mattia, the fascination also stemmed from films and video games, which had inspired a longstanding curiosity about American life. The experience, he explains, has surpassed his already high expectations, especially through the generosity of Americans and Italians living abroad. Among the encounters Sasha remembers most fondly is a meeting with a police officer named Tolen in New York. When the officer stopped them, the pair initially assumed he wanted to carry out a routine check. Instead, he asked to take a photograph with them. He subsequently began following their journey on Instagram and has remained in contact. Sasha sees the encounter as an example of how openness and respect can encourage others to respond with warmth and willingness to help. Mattia’s most vivid memory involves a more unsettling experience. During a night in Michigan, he recalls staying near an area he understood to be connected to serial killings involving people on cycling trails or sleeping in tents. The similarity to their own circumstances heightened his anxiety, leaving him with an unfamiliar combination of fear and adrenaline. The physical demands of the journey have also tested both cyclists. For Sasha, the most difficult day came in Connecticut, where repeated climbs and descents were made harder by the simultaneous failure of five bicycle spokes. The mechanical problems coincided with low morale and limited energy, at a stage when they were still learning how to manage their nutrition effectively. Mattia recalls his toughest day near the border between Maine and Canada, after passing through Jackman. Steep climbs, sudden drops in energy and an approaching thunderstorm made progress increasingly difficult. He remembers breaking into a cold sweat and concentrating on getting through the remaining hours. Experiences like these have made flexibility essential. Both explain that they have revised their itinerary several times, whether to explore different destinations or find more manageable cycling routes. Throughout these challenges, the support of others has been a recurring source of encouragement. Sasha recalls receiving help from Americans and Italians across the East Coast, Canada and the Midwest. In Canada, an unexpected encounter brought them into a television casting setting, where members of the production team welcomed them and offered assistance. For Mattia, the journey has been marked by frequent offers of food and accommodation, accompanied by a phrase they hear repeatedly: “Safe travel.” He describes meeting people who take a personal interest in their progress and are eager to help once they understand the scale of the undertaking. One episode remains particularly memorable. While looking for accommodation, the pair approached an old school building and met a group of people their own age. After hearing about their journey, the group invited them to join a party and share some pizza. They then paid for a motel room, loaded the bicycles onto their pickup truck and drove Sasha and Mattia there. That unexpected welcome has stayed with Mattia as one of the clearest examples of the generosity they have encountered. As they continue towards Panama, their account of the Americas is taking shape through both the distance travelled and the people who have offered them a place to rest, a meal or the encouragement to carry on.

From unexpected setbacks and long days in the saddle to managing a budget and sharing your journey online, what does this adventure demand of you each day, and what keeps you going when things get difficult?

We have realised that a journey like this takes much more than physical endurance. For me, the most frightening moment was a night in Michigan, when we understood there was a serial killer in the area. We heard gunshots and saw police cars speeding past,” Sasha recalls. “In those moments, a survival instinct kicks in. Your attention shifts entirely to what is happening around you and how to respond. On ordinary days, we try to follow a routine while staying flexible. We wake up between eight and nine thirty, have breakfast, pack away the tent and start cycling. We cover around 75 kilometres a day and usually stop an hour and a half to two hours before dark. Our plans depend on our supplies, the places we want to explore and whether we have a host for the night or need to camp. Some of the hardest moments for me have been the storms, Mattia adds. We have found ourselves completely soaked, asking for somewhere to stay and being turned away again and again. At that point, all you want is a dry place. You realise you have to find a solution without giving in to panic or frustration. It takes a great deal of mental strength. Eating enough is part of that challenge, too. We have substantial breakfasts and dinners, and we eat carbohydrates throughout the day to keep us going. Sometimes, though, even that is not enough, and we feel our energy drop, both physically and mentally. We chose to make this journey as affordable as possible, sleeping in a tent and buying our food at supermarkets, Sasha explains. At a certain point, however, I decided it was worth spending a little more on food. Eating better gives us more energy and helps us enjoy the experience. For me, that is money well spent. Alongside the cycling, we also make time to document what we are living through. We film with our action cameras, including the DJI Action 5 Pro, and our phones, then edit on our smartphones in the evening before going to sleep. The encouragement from our followers gives us a real boost, especially when things get difficult. My biggest expenses came before we even started, with the flight, insurance and visa, Mattia says. On the road, most of my spending goes towards food and improving my equipment. I do not have sponsors, although I am looking for them. I am funding this journey with savings I worked hard to put aside in Italy. I stopped buying clothes and shoes and going to clubs, cutting out unnecessary spending so I could afford to leave. I still think carefully about every expense to make the most of what I have. When it comes to social media, we each film and edit our own videos. Some evenings, I am exhausted and would rather simply enjoy the moment than think about editing or posting. But sharing the journey is also my way of giving something back to the people following it. Their support means a lot to us, and it helps us keep going.

How is travelling together every day testing your friendship, and what is this experience teaching you about yourselves and the world around you?

For Sasha, the greatest challenges come from fatigue and fluctuating motivation, while honest conversation keeps tensions from building. There are very few moments of tension between us, and when they do arise, we usually resolve them easily by talking. We are both fairly relaxed people. For me, the hardest part is tiredness and those moments when my energy or motivation drops, but overall, we are managing well. This journey has also changed how I see America, its people and its police. Based on what we had seen in the media, we expected people to be more distant or perhaps put obstacles in our way. Instead, we have found a very different reality: people who are welcoming, open, fun and supportive of our adventure. Mattia sees their different habits as a small part of a strong friendship, while the distance from his family has made the journey a personal test of independence. We have different opinions on some things, but we just need to speak honestly and find an agreement. We also move at different paces: I tend to get things done more quickly and keep everything organised, while Sasha is more chaotic and takes his time! Everyone has their own way of doing things, but our friendship is so solid that these differences become insignificant. Travelling together is an incredible advantage because we can support each other. I do miss home. I am very close to my family, especially my mother, whom I speak to every day. But I have approached this journey as a challenge in life: an opportunity to grow, learn to look after myself even on the other side of the world and become a better person.

Panama marks the destination of their journey, but their hopes already extend beyond the finish line. Sasha dreams of returning to Italy to meet the people who have supported them, sharing their experiences in person and offering something of the adventure to those who have followed it. He hopes these stories will inspire others or simply brighten their day. For him, the journey means travelling far to discover what lies across the ocean, facing each challenge one kilometre at a time and discovering the hospitality of strangers. His meeting with Officer Tolen in New York, alongside the people who have opened their doors or offered help with a smile, stands among the clearest expressions of what the experience has meant to him: discovering the beauty of human kindness. Mattia’s ambitions include continuing to explore the world, learning from other cultures and leaving something of himself with the people he meets. Together, they would also like to take part in Pechino Express, putting their determination and teamwork to the test. His encouragement to young people considering an adventure of their own is simple: do not let fear hold you back. Summing up his experience with an emphatic AMERICA FUCK YEAH!, he points to the exuberance, craziness and extraordinary generosity of the Americans they have encountered. For Mattia, the most memorable moments arrive when a distant skyline comes into view. The sight of the skyscrapers brings back the effort and the kilometres behind them, while the sheer scale of the city ahead promises new discoveries. It is a moment that holds both the satisfaction of having come so far and the excitement of everything still waiting to be experienced.

Until our next interview, I leave you with my warm regards.A sincere thank you from Micro Influencer Daniel Balan, where every project becomes a visual narrative and every connection a new story to tell.If you wish to follow my work and explore the world of Daniel Vision Lab, you can find me on Instagram at @danielbalan.official