2026 Tracking & Results
This edition is in progress. Follow the organizer's tracking for current positions. Live positions are not final results. Published outcomes will be recorded here once a result source is available.
Event Overview
| Date | Oct 15-18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis, Réunion |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | Africa |
| Distance / duration | Approximately 180 km |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Edition note | The 2026 route no longer passes through Cilaos. The organizer's route description leaves the Cilaos trail at the Croisée Kerveguen (km 67.6) and descends via Bélouve to Hell-Bourg, the first base camp (km 80.6), then crosses Mafate to the Maïdo and the second base at Ilet Savannah (km 140.5) before finishing at La Redoute (180.8 km). A rockfall on October 7 damaged the trail between Roche Plate and La Brèche (km 118.9) and closed it. On October 12 the forestry office (ONF) said the trail should reopen from October 13, weather permitting, once railings are repaired; the official route still passes La Brèche, and the race page warns that the course can change for trail-condition reasons. Reconnaissance between Bassin Plat and Piton Sec is prohibited because it crosses private land. |
| Elevation gain | Approximately 10,200 m |
| Cutoff | 66 hours |
| Start | 10:00 PM Thursday |
| Field size | Capped at 3,000 runners; LiveTrail listed 2,826 registered on October 12, 2026. |
| Highlights | Réunion Island Crossing, Grand Raid |
Course & Terrain
Mountain point-to-point crossing of Réunion from Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre to the Stade de La Redoute in Saint-Denis. In 2026 the base camps are Hell-Bourg in the Cirque de Salazie and Ilet Savannah.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Piton des Neiges shoulder at the Croisée Kerveguen, the high point at 2,475 m (km 67.6)
- Hell-Bourg base camp in the Cirque de Salazie (km 80.6)
- Mafate via the Sentier Scout, Grand Place and Roche Plate
- The Maïdo (km 123.9) and the Chemin des Anglais to La Redoute
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Logistics note | The October 15 start is at Ravine Blanche, Saint-Pierre. |
Why This Race Matters
Diagonale des Fous is a useful reference point for runners comparing long fixed-distance ultras where most of the field runs through the night. Its format, terrain, and support model shape the kind of preparation required: not just fitness, but pacing discipline, nutrition planning, foot care, and the ability to make good decisions under fatigue.
Preparing for a Race Like Diagonale des Fous
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
Event FAQs
Does the 2026 Diagonale des Fous go through Cilaos?
No. According to Reference Trail, the organizer announced in February 2026 that Cilaos would leave the Diagonale course, citing the single access road and emergency access. The official 2026 route leaves the Cilaos trail near the Piton des Neiges and descends to Hell-Bourg, the first base camp at km 80.6. Cilaos remains the start of the Trail de Bourbon.
How can I follow the 2026 Diagonale des Fous live?
The organizer's LiveTrail page shows checkpoint times, rankings and the leaders, and the LiveInfo app carries the same data. The race starts at 10:00 PM local time (UTC+4) on Thursday, October 15. LiveTrail's pre-race favourites list is led by Tom Evans, Josh Wade and Jean-Philippe Tschumi, with Ruth Croft, Marianne Hogan and Sarah Vieuille the top women.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 12, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Diagonale des Fous page — https://www.grandraid-reunion.com/fr/les-courses/la-diagonale-des-fous/
- Official 2026 registration information — https://www.grandraid-reunion.com/fr/inscriptions/modalites-des-inscriptions/modalites-des-inscriptions-1966
- Official 2026 route description (PDF) — https://www.grandraid-reunion.com/IMG/pdf/diagonale_des_fous_2026okdesc.pdf
- Official 2026 cutoff times (PDF) — https://www.grandraid-reunion.com/IMG/pdf/diag_2026_av_barrieres_horaires.pdf
- LiveTrail 2026 live tracking — https://grandraid-reunion.v3.livetrail.net/fr/2026
- Reference Trail: why Cilaos leaves the course (March 2026) — https://reference-trail.fr/diagonale-des-fous-2026-pourquoi-cilaos-disparait-du-parcours-du-grand-raid/
- Reference Trail: rockfall near La Brèche (October 7, 2026) — https://reference-trail.fr/diagonale-des-fous-2026-un-eboulement-menace-le-parcours-a-quelques-jours-du-depart/
- u-Trail: La Brèche trail expected to reopen October 13 (October 12, 2026) — https://www2.u-trail.com/diagonale-des-fous-2026-bonne-nouvelle-le-parcours-ne-devrait-finalement-pas-changer-apres-les-eboulements/
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 12, 2026.