Sofiane: Updates from Italy and Slovenia
On July 1, Sofiane Sehili left the westernmost tip of Portugal to embark on his biggest adventure yet: Ride more than 16,000 km (10,000 miles) to traverse two continents, all the way to Vladivostok on the eastern edge of Siberia.
Now on the 20th day of his ride, Sofiane has covered more than 6,000 kilometers. He is about 1,000 kilometers ahead of the current record holder’s pace, but he’ll have to ride a longer route due to political circumstances. (The world has changed since 2017, when the legendary Jonas Deichmann set the current record.)
Photographer Edoardo Frezet (@edoardo.frezet) went out to find Sofiane as he traversed Italy. He’s shared his photos and impressions with us. Edoardo noted:
“We chased Sofiane in the plains of northern Italy. That evening, he struggled to find accommodation for the night, but managed just in time before a heavy storm broke. Sofiane is really focused, yet not stressed at all. The mood is of cyclotouring rather than racing. Extreme cyclotouring, of course, but he’s happy to ride by himself, without other dots to chase.
“The routine is also one of cyclotouring. A nice dinner, long(ish) sleep, no riding at night. Along the road, some fans are there to ride with him, some friends wait for him. I can’t say I know him now, after this short chat. Yet I can say for sure that he enjoys every km of the ride, and he will keep having fun until Vladivostok.”
A few days later, Bicycle Quarterly contributor Gregor Mahringer joined Sofiane as he traversed Serbia, to interview him about his big adventure. Here is Gregor’s story:
When Sofiane Sehili set out to break the world record for crossing Europe and Asia by bike, he wasn’t planning on making any unnecessary stops—especially not for an interview. So I did what any self-respecting cycling content creator would do: I packed my gear, took a bus from Munich to Slovenia, and joined him on the road.
For one intense day, I rode over 200 kilometers beside one of the most respected ultra-endurance cyclists in the world, capturing his thoughts in motion—across Slovenia and into Zagreb, Croatia. What followed was not a sit-down interview, but a rolling, unscripted conversation during a world-record attempt.
Gregor: You started in Portugal and plan to ride all the way to Vladivostok in Russia. Will this be your longest ride ever?
Sofiane: Maybe. It would have to be above 16,288 km, which was my longest ride so far. It’s possible.
Gregor: You’re already ahead of the previous record. How’s your state of mind right now?
Sofiane: It’s good, man. Yesterday night and this morning were the first moments after eight days when I thought: I’ve been averaging 330 km a day… and it’s doing some damage. I slept more, didn’t rush, pressed the reset button. It’s a long ride, something I’ve never done before, so I’m kind of inventing it as I go. But today is a good day.
Gregor: What’s been the biggest challenge so far?
Sofiane: The first day. Portugal was extremely hot, and I had a tailwind, which made it even hotter. I was full of energy and overdid it. I didn’t listen to my body, just wanted to push. I ended up with heat exhaustion. It’s not a good experience—especially not on Day 1.
Gregor: And the moments you enjoyed most?
Sofiane: There have been good moments almost every day. Day 2 in Spain was beautiful—it’s so empty, and I love that. The South of France along the Canal du Midi; the Alps climbing the Col du Larche into Italy… every country had highlights.
Gregor: What are you thinking about during these long days?
Sofiane: Sometimes, not much. But in the beginning, I kept thinking about how absurd this all is. You’re just riding 14 hours a day. But that absurdity… it makes sense for me, too. A lot of thoughts are about food, drinks, kilometers done, kilometers left. But mostly, I love the simplicity. We live such complex lives. On a ride like this, you just ride. That’s all you do. And that’s enough. I love the simplicity that lies in it.
Gregor: Why did you decide to set this record?
Sofiane: It’s going back to my roots. I became a racer late—after 30. But before that, I was a bike tourer. Racing is one thing, but this—this is a journey. It’s discovery. There’s no race that compares to this distance.
Gregor: Why exactly this record? Why now?
Sofiane: Because of the places. This route starts in the familiar—Europe—and moves into the unknown. We’re in Slovenia now, heading into Slavic cultures, then Turkic, then Muslim cultures… and then the great emptiness of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, Mongolia… these are places that are truly foreign to me. I like not fully understanding what’s happening around me.
Gregor: Let’s talk about the route. How did you plan it?
Sofiane: Originally, I wanted to go through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, the Karakoram Highway – which is highest paved international border crossings in the world, China, then Russia. But there’s a Chinese border checkpoint that won’t let you cycle a certain stretch—they put you on a bus. Then Iran became unstable. Belarus wouldn’t let me cross by bike. In the end, I’m riding through Europe, Turkey, Georgia, a bit of Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, then back into Russia.
Gregor: How detailed was your planning?
Sofiane: Not very. There were so many last-minute changes. I planned the route to Istanbul more carefully. After that, I’m improvising. I just need to go east.
Gregor: What’s the ratio of tarmac to gravel?
Sofiane: About 95% tarmac. Kazakhstan might change that. For me, that country is the big unknown. Roads are scarce. If gravel is good, I’ll take it. If it’s bad, I’ll have to follow paved roads even if that means a few 100 kilometers more.
Gregor: How did you plan your overnight stays? Hotels? Outdoors?
Sofiane: So far, all hotels. I don’t carry a sleeping bag or mat. Just an emergency blanket. In Europe, it’s not hard. But in Kazakhstan or Russia? We’ll see. Sometimes I might ride through the night. Certainly, I handle all the bookings myself, which eats up a fair amount of time each day. But it’s part of the deal.
Gregor: What region are you most excited about?
Sofiane: Mongolia. I’ve never been. Vast steppes, wild horses, yurts. The most sparsely populated country in the world. That’s my kind of place—completely alone in the world.
Gregor: Tell us about your bike setup.
Sofiane: It’s a Bombtrack Hook Titanium. I feel that a metal bike is the appropriate choice for this ride. It’s comfortable and a bit lighter than steel. I ride on 38 mm Rene Herse Barlow Pass Endurance tires, tubeless. GRX Di2. Carbon wheels. Not the best for remote repairs—but the goal is: don’t break down.
Gregor: What are the biggest challenges still ahead?
Sofiane: The heat. No doubt. It’s summer. In the desert, in Kazakhstan—no shade, no water—hat’s gonna be tough. That, and anything unexpected. A crash, bike trouble… A car door opened on me in Italy. I avoided it at the last second. That could’ve ended the ride. You don’t dwell on it, but it’s real. If it’s just my legs and my head, I’m confident. I fully believe I can break the record—and I’m pushing to do it in under 50 days.
Gregor: What comes after this? More records? Races?
Sofiane: Definitely some races. I love racing too much to stop. And maybe I’ll invent my own adventures. There’s still so much to ride.
Gregor: When you reach Vladivostok, will someone be waiting for you?
Sofiane: No. Just me and my GoPro. I’ll say: ‘Hey, I did it.’ That’s enough. No big fuss. Sometimes, the best moments are the ones you keep for yourself.
Gregor: Last words? Anything you want to leave us with?
Sofiane: What I do might look hard. But it’s just riding a bike. And yeah, sometimes it’s hard. But I chose it. I’m lucky. A friend of mine—right before I left—got hit on his bike in an accident. He’s in a wheelchair now. Will never ride again. So every time I suffer, I think of him. And I say: Be grateful you’re suffering—because you’re on your bike.
Sofiane’s journey continues:
- Follow Sofiane’s tracker.
- Check his Instagram for updates.
- Watch the full video of this interview on Gregor’s channel.
Photos: Edoardo Frezet (@edoardo.frezet; Photos 1-4); Gregor Mahringer (Photos 5-9)
