A French cyclist who spent 50 days in custody in Russia says he still plans to pursue new records, despite having his attempt to complete the fastest ride from Portugal to the Pacific Ocean

cut short by customs officials.

Sofiane Sehili, an “ultra-endurance racer and adventure cyclist,” was released in Russia’s Far East on October 23 after admitting to crossing the border illegally. He returned to Paris on Sunday.

After pedaling 18,000 kilometers (11,200 miles) from near Lisbon, Sehili was just 200 kilometers from Vladivostok—his intended finish line—and on track to break the world record for cycling across Eurasia. The current record, recognized by Guinness World Records, is held by German cyclist Jonas Deichmann, who completed the journey in 64 days, two hours, and 26 minutes.

However, Sehili’s plan fell apart when he discovered that his electronic visa only permitted entry into Russia by train—and that the last train had already departed.

“I was on a mission to break a world record,” Sehili told Reuters. “If I had waited another 24 hours for the next train, breaking the record would have been impossible.”

Determined to continue, he decided to cross the border on foot, carrying his bike through dense forests, wading through streams, crawling under barbed wire, and following GPS coordinates east until he reached a railway line.

“I gave up on the dream of breaking the record somewhere in that forest after the barbed wire,” he recalled. “There was no path—just streams, fallen trees, and tall, razor-sharp grass. My legs were covered in cuts.”

By the end of the day, completely exhausted, Sehili surrendered to Russian border officials. Although he initially claimed the crossing was accidental, he admitted, “They kind of guessed that I did it on purpose.”

The 43-year-old was held in a pre-trial detention center in Ussuriysk, around 100 kilometers north of Vladivostok, facing the possibility of up to two years in prison.

“It was an old building, falling apart and humid—exactly what you’d imagine a Russian jail looks like,” he said. “Not a nice place, but not a violent one either. It was pretty safe.”

While fellow inmates were not aggressive, the food was basic and bland—porridge, overcooked rice, pasta with tiny bits of meat, and thin broths. Sehili said he lost weight, developed an ear infection, and suffered a persistent cough.

He was moved between four different cells, sometimes sharing with up to eight other inmates. In court photos, Sehili could be seen standing in a cage, still wearing his cycling shoes with the laces removed. “Those were my only shoes,” he said.

Despite the ordeal, the experience has not dampened his spirit.

“I’m going to keep riding, keep racing ultras, and keep trying to break records,” he said. “Not this one—but definitely others.”

Before resuming his adventures, he offered one piece of advice: “I would strongly advise against breaking any law in Russia—any law,” he warned. “Whether you’re Russian or a foreigner, they are not kidding.” Photo by ndshel, Wikimedia commons.