Sofiane Sehili

Sometimes everything goes according to plan, you get the win and you post a good time. Other times the whole race is a struggle, the finish is sluggish and you'd rather not think about how long it took you. But a win is a win. It does not come often and as such you should cherish it. I may not be proud of my time, but I'm proud of the resilience I showed when things went bad. I take pride in not giving up when it would have been easy to. @silkroadmountainrace was a great adventure. I can already tell I'll come back for more. Thank you all for your support. Much much appreciated. Love you guys 📸 @usmanovdanil

𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. What is it? Why is it the way it is? Should we change it? . This is me in 2014 riding the GDMBR. A cash strapped bike messenger with about 60€ worth of clothes on my back, a 1500€ bike and some sort of home-made bag strapped on my rack with bits of inner tubes. The same badass me who, at that time was averaging 150km a day just for fun. 8 years later, I ride fancy bikes with top notch kit and gear. But I'm the same dude: just happy to be on my bike. A couple weeks ago I went to Girona for the first time. I think I managed to fit in. But barely. And I didn't feel at ease. Why is that so? Well the cycling culture, what it has become, I feel it's very elitist. When you're in the cycling Mecca that is Girona, all you see is super exclusive bike shops with very high price tags and fancy cafés serving the latest in beverage trends. Cycling doesnt have to be that way. It can be fun, laid-back, accessible. You can wear what the fuck you want, ride whichever bike you can afford and still belong. Because the cycling culture should be what you make it. I'll tell you one little secret. The price of your bike, kit and gear doesn't matter. The joy of riding my bike is the same since I first started bike touring on a 100$ second hand MTB. I might be a bit faster now but I'm as happy. Not more, not less. I realize I sometimes have a part in conveying that image of what cycling is supposed to be and who it's supposed to be for. So I want to make it clear: cycling is for everyone who has 100$ to spend on a bike and it's about enjoying being outside, pedaling and hopefully not taking yourself too seriously. So don't feel intimidated by the hip crowd wearing the thinest lycra and the most aero glasses instagraming their 6€ chai latte. Say hi and sing your best Lionel Richie. It's their problem, not yours, if they don't want to be chill.

8 years ago I was sitting in a restaurant in Steamboat Springs CO, talking with fellow Great Divide tourer @brunovanwilderode . I had met him the same morning at Brush Mountain lodge. We were chatting about Tour Divide and I told him "I want to race it. I think I can win it." He answered something like "You're crazy, it's impossible". Which is what any rational person would think if someone with absolutely no racing experience whatsoever were to tell them they want to win the hardest bike race in the world. But I'm a stubborn individual and when I set my mind on something, I just won't let go. Over the course of several years, I transformed from tourer to racer. Learning on the job, making all the mistakes. The ability was there but the experience was not. I took my time, had to persevere against adverse luck. But I finally became a successful bikepack racer. I gathered important wins on some of the most brutal courses of the bikepacking circuit. I seemed to be able to find success anywhere except on TD. I tried it again in 2019 but the biggest June snowstorm in the history of Colorado derailed my plans. I could have let go. I could have told myself "You have nothing to prove. You've shown you belong to the elite of the sport. You don't need that win. It's not gonna change anything for you". But I had made that promise to 32 year old me. 2014 me who had the hardest time possible touring the Divide. I had promised him I would become so strong that ,one day, I would actually be the fastest from Banff to Antelope Wells. Knowing I had what it takes was not enough. I had to actually do it. And so I did it. Not to show the world. Not to prove doubters wrong. Just to keep a promise I made to myself. Because these are the most important. 📸 @bikesordeath PS: le V de la victoire c'est spéciale dédicace pour toi mon @jugrvd

Il y a un temps pour vivre des aventures extraordinaires et un temps pour les raconter. Depuis janvier, je travaille à la rédaction d'un livre sur ma tentative de record du monde et ses conséquences directes ; à savoir 2 mois de prison en Russie. C'est un exercice exigeant mais qui me passionne. (Et auquel j'ai la chance de me livrer dans un cadre propice, comme vous pouvez le voir). Ce récit vous permettra, comme jamais auparavant, de partager mon intimité et mes pensées les plus profondes. Tout ce qui me passe par la tête durant ces interminables journées. Un livre qui ouvrira une fenêtre à nulle autre pareille sur 4 des mois les plus marquants et déterminants de ma vie. Le manuscrit est à 75% achevé. D'ici un mois, il sera terminé et remit à l'éditeur. Il restera pas mal de travail de son côté et beaucoup moins du mien, en attendant une publication à la rentrée. Quelques mois de patience encore donc, avant de pouvoir tout savoir de cette aventure. J'espère que vous serez nombreux à lire ces pages. Mais j'espère surtout que ceux qui les liront, les aimeront. Qu'elles les feront voyager, rêver, frémir...

Last year, Sofiane Sehili attempted to break the record of the Eurasian crossing by bike. He moved efficiently across Europe, but the borders in Asia caused him troubles. After nearly eighteen thousand kilometers in a single direction, the margin for error had disappeared, and there was no legal way to enter Russia on time. He risked it, and later surrendered to the authorities. After roughly fifty days in detention, he was released. The record attempt was over, but the experience had already moved beyond the framework of sport. Read the full article by checking the link in bio, or save this post and read it later. All content is available in English and Spanish / Todo el contenido está disponible en inglés y español. Photos by @edoardo.frezet

The people have spoken: "We want more shot from the new bike!!" Well, ask and you shall receive Bombtrack Hook Teal black with Columbus tubing New limitless Hunt wheelset with super exclusive Qvist hubs René Herse Bon Jon pass tires 2x12 GRX Di2 groupset Fizik adaptive saddle Seido finishing kit Coros DURA gps I had 4 trucks dump 70 tons of rocks in my garden for this photoshoot, so please give this build some love

Few things beat the pleasure of building a new bike. Especially when you do with some of the finest components available. Like, for exemple, a @shimanogravel 2x12 GRX Di2 groupset or the latest wheels from @hunt.beyond and their german engineered top of the line @qvist.cc hubs 😍 I built this Hook right before Easter and I love it so much I already logged in close to 1000 km with it. Like Humphrey Bogart would say "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

@gravelmanfr Salagou When my friend @adrien_thom24 , who lives close by, told me he was going to ride the @gravelmanseries Salagou in the 500km paved category, my interest was piqued. I needed a challenge to kick off my season, not too long and not too far. My house being kind of on the way to the start, he picked me up and we drove to picturesque Pézenas for a what promised too be sunny ride. It turned out to be too sunny for me ☀️ After twelve hours in a very unusual heat for this time of the year, I started showing all the signs of a heat stroke. I completed the first loop and, being back at the start/finish, I decided to call it a day after 340km. Adrien went on to be the first finisher of the 500, so my hat is off to him. Thanks again @stevenlehyaric for the invite 👍 I was happy to take part in my first gravelman. I'll be back soon with a vengeance and bigger tires. Because next time, it wont be tarmac 👀 📸@l.m.medias

Steel is real 🤘 . @bombtrackbicycleco @hunt.beyond @shimanogravel

WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE! Link in bio! It’s finally out. A journey across continents.
An unexpected arrest.
Two months of detention.
One need that never disappeared: “I need the sky above my head.” Thank you to everyone who made this possible — especially the partners who stood behind this project. @bombtrackbicycleco @miss_grape_official @corosfrance @thesharingvan In words of @sofianeshl and @fannybens Music by @albertobellavia_composer Cover picture by @edoardo.frezet . . . #marcorimondivideomaker #documentary #trueStory #ineedtheskyabovemyhead #cyclinglife

He set out to cross continents. He ended up losing his freedom. Here is the official trailer of my new documentary. What started as an attempt to break a record across Eurasia became something much deeper — a story about limits, control, and the need to stay free. WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE! Link in bio! Special thanks to the technical partners who supported this journey. @bombtrackbicycleco @miss_grape_official @corosfrance @thesharingvan . . . Music by @albertobellavia_composer Cover picture by @edoardo.frezet #marcorimondivideomaker #ineedtheskyabovemyhead #trailer #documentaryfilm #truestory

A sunny weekend of fun and bikes in southern Spain, all thanks to @shimanogravel ! Happy to be reunited with the gang 🤙 @hennapalosaari @anke_is_awesome @_hey_there_dalila @ibai_fradejas @fontanaprorider @erwinsikkens_com #unitedingravel