A French cyclist freed after weeks in a Russian jail for illegally crossing the border on Monday described his time in the country as a “rather strange experience” but said the Russians he met were “friendly”.

Sofiane Sehili, 44, was arrested on the Russian-Chinese border in early September while attempting to break the record for the fastest endurance cycle from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

Sehili, who describes himself as an ultra-endurance racer and adventure cyclist, had faced two years in a Russian prison.

But a court in the Russian Far East last Thursday freed the Frenchman despite finding him guilty of the border-crossing charge. He returned to France on Sunday.

Speaking to Agence France-Presse, following his more than seven weeks in detention in the town of Ussuriisk, Sehili sounded upbeat, saying he was not mistreated and that his experience helped him learn about the Russian people.

“It was a rather strange experience, since I ended up spending two months in Russia and all the people I met were criminals,” he said.