France, Oct. 23 -- French endurance cyclist Sofiane Sehili was headed home on Thursday after a Russian court freed him despite finding him guilty of entering the country illegally during his attempt to break a world cycling record.

Sehili was detained in the Far Eastern district of Primorye in September. He had been trying to ride across the Eurasian landmass faster than anyone before him.

His partner Fanny Bensussan told French medialast month that Sehili decided to present himself to customs officials, convinced they would let him pass on his bike, but he was arrested instead.

"All he could think about was his sporting achievement," she said. Bensussan has been campaigning for his release since the arrest.

In a post on social media ...