“After that first 60km ride, I kept going. I kept riding. Further and further. In 2014, I discovered the Great Divide mountain bike route, where I heard about ultra-cycling for the first time. I knew I had to try it.”
In the years following his Southeast Asian excursion, Sofiane’s life had changed considerably. Frequently escaping for extended bike tours—including his 2014 ride down the Great Divide route—Sehili looked for every opportunity to increasingly incorporate cycling into daily life, and that included his occupation, taking up a job as a bike messenger in order to enjoy even more time on two wheels. Riding day in, day out, his stamina grew, as did his confidence, all the while he became increasingly focused on one goal: taking on the Great Divide once again, but this time as a competitor on the route’s annual unofficial race.
“I felt I had what it takes to succeed. In 2016, I finished third in my first ever bikepacking race, the Tour Divide.”
Much like with that fateful first ride, one race led to another—then another—as Sofiane began to combine physical talent with the type of knowledge only challenge and experience can provide.
“It took me time to build on that first result. I kept racing, and while I was good, I kept making mistakes that prevented me from achieving my full potential. I needed time to grow. I got frustrated and contemplated quitting. But I’m not a quitter. So, I kept at it.”
Frustration turned to determination, which ultimately led to Sofiane’s first major ultra-cycling win, finishing the 2019 Italy Divide in a time of 4 days, 7 hours, and 33 minutes—an honor he shared with fellow competitor James Hayden when the final mountain pass proved too treacherous to race down. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before Sofiane would have a first-place finish all to himself. As seems to be the pattern for Sehili, one win led to another—then another.
