French ultra-distance cyclist Sofiane Sehili remains jailed in Vladivostok on charges of illegally crossing Russia’s border after attempting to break the world record for the fastest bicycle crossing of Eurasia. The 44-year-old athlete was arrested in early September, just 200 kilometers (124 miles) from his intended finish line. Russian authorities arrested him as he attempted to cross the border illegally from China through a wooded area near the Suifenhe checkpoint.

A source who spoke to the regional outlet Govorit NeMoskva said Sehili had been turned away from the official customs checkpoint because his electronic visa was valid only at airport border crossings. “He’ll probably be convicted and imprisoned,” said the source. “And they’ll add him to the list of political prisoners who can be exchanged. They let him wash at least once a week, and they’ve given him yard time. He’s in shock, of course. But to land yourself in prison over something so stupid?”

The cyclist, a former documentary filmmaker who turned to ultra-endurance racing in 2012, has won 11 major races, including the prestigious Tour Divide — a 4,500-kilometer (2,800-mile) mountain bike race from Canada to Mexico. His Eurasia attempt began in Portugal on July 1, aiming to beat German cyclist Jonas Deichmann’s 2017 record of 64 days, two hours, and 26 minutes for the fastest crossing from Cape Roca to Vladivostok. His route took him through Russia in late July, crossing into Chechnya from Georgia before exiting through the Astrakhan region and continuing across Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and China.

Background

• French cyclist arrested in Russia while trying to break record for fastest Eurasia crossing