To commemorate his Dakar Rally bike victory in January, Luciano Benavides and his brother Kevin visited the Casa Rosada on Tuesday, where they met Argentinian President Javier Milei. Both presented their rider jerseys as well as the Bedouin trophy that Luciano got for winning.

Officially, the visit was to celebrate both brothers’ Dakar wins. Kevin won the bike overall in 2021 and 2023, then claimed three stages at this year’s race in Challenger en route to a seventh-place finish. Stage 7 saw the Benavides become the first brothers to win their respective Dakar classes on the same day.

“It is a tremendous honor and source of pride to share this moment with my brother and to be recognized for the Dakar Rallies in 2021, 2023, and 2026,” said Kevin.

Dakar winners from Argentina are usually recognized solely by their respective towns or provinces. On the other hand, Milei is the first head of state to welcome them to his office, similar to how American presidents have sports champions at the White House. Domestic media also mention how he had invited José Torres to the Casa Rosada after he won the BMX freestyle gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Featured image credit: Oficina del Presidente de la República Argentina