"It wasn't very smart": he tried to break the EuroAsia record and ended up in a Russian prison

The French ultracyclist Sofiane Sehili, one of the most recognized names in ultra-distance cycling, has recently returned to his country after spending 50 days detained in Russia. The reason: he had attempted to illegally cross the border between China and Russia during his attempt to break the world record for the EuroAsia cycling route, a route of over 18,000 kilometers that connects Lisbon with Vladivostok.

Sofiane Sehili, from the EuroAsia challenge to 50 days in a Russian prison

Sehili, 44 years old, departed from Lisbon on July 8th with the goal of improving the current record held by German cyclist Jonas Deichmann, set at 64 days and 2 hours. After traveling through 17 countries and with the finish line in sight, the cyclist encountered an unexpected obstacle: the only operational border crossing between China and Russia in that area only allowed crossing by train or bus, which would invalidate his record attempt as it relied on motorized transport.

Pressured by the clock and determined to complete the challenge autonomously, he chose to enter Russia through a wooded area, outside of official controls. "I wanted to cross legally, but it wasn't possible that day. If I waited until the next day, I wouldn't break the record," he explained to AFP after his return to France.

His adventure came to an abrupt end when he was detained by Russian authorities just hours before reaching Vladivostok, in the far east of the country. His irregular entry into Russian territory cost him almost two months of imprisonment, although he was eventually released, fined, and deported to France on October 23rd.

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In subsequent statements, Sehili admitted that he was "not very smart" to attempt the maneuver. "I crossed through a very dense forest and, after a few hours, I realized it had been a crazy thing," he commented. The Frenchman explained that he naively trusted that by declaring his entry as accidental, he would be quickly returned to China, something that did not happen due to the current political situation in the country.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, the cyclist stated that he received proper treatment during his time in prison: he had medical and legal assistance, and was repatriated via Thailand.

With this episode, the EurAsia World Record mark will continue to belong to Jonas Deichmann. Sehili, known for his victories in races like the Silk Road Mountain Race, the Atlas Mountain Race, or the Tour Divide, adds another story to his already legendary career, although this time with a very different outcome than expected.