French national apprehended in Russia for attempting to surpass Eurasian endurance record

In a surprising turn of events, a French national, identified as Sofiane Sehili, has been arrested in Russia. According to reports from diplomatic sources, the news was learned on Monday, September 8.

Sofiane Sehili, an endurance cyclist, was attempting to break the world record for cycling across Eurasia from Lisbon to Vladivostok. He set off on his journey on July 1st from Lisbon.

Sofiane had been using a tracking platform to share his performance on social networks, including Instagram. On September 2nd, he published a video expressing his disappointment about not crossing the Sino-Russian border. However, the video also indicated a sign of failure in his record attempt.

Details about the circumstances of Sofiane's arrest in Russia are not disclosed. Le Monde revealed that Sofiane Sehili is the cyclist in question. His partner spoke to the sports daily L'Equipe, reporting that he was arrested on the Russian side after crossing the border through wooded hills.

Currently, Sofiane Sehili is being held in Ussuriysk, a city located midway between the China-Russia border and Vladivostok. It was in Ussuriysk where a French consulate has requested consular protection for him.

For those unfamiliar, Sofiane Sehili had previously connected Paris to Taiwan (16,000 km) in three months back in 2017. His cycling journey stopped near the China-Russia border on September 1st.

As the situation unfolds, it is essential to consult current news sources for more accurate and detailed information. The exact reasons for Sofiane's arrest and his presence in Ussuriysk remain unclear, as details about such events are often disclosed only after a delay or incompletely.

French national apprehended in Russia for attempting to surpass Eurasian endurance record