Results: 2026
| Category | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Hugo Deck (France) | 22:54:19 |
| Women | Ruth Croft (New Zealand) | 27:13:23 |
| Men — second | Robin Juillaguet (France) | 23:51:54 |
| Men — third | Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Belgium) | 24:10:35 |
| Women — second | Alyssa Clark (USA) | 28:26:53 |
| Women — third | Agathe Bes (France) | 29:05:19 |
2126 of 2767 starters finished.
LiveTrail's final statistics, read on October 19, list 2,126 finishers (216 women) and 641 withdrawals among the 2,767 starters (305 women), a 76.8% finish rate. Deck finished at La Redoute in Saint-Denis on Friday, October 16. Tom Evans, first on LiveTrail's pre-race favourites list, finished seventh in 26:21:33.
Source: LiveTrail — official Diagonale des Fous 2026 ranking. Checked October 19, 2026.
Event Overview
The headline Grand Raid de la Réunion race crosses about 180 km of volcanic island terrain from Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis, bypassing Cilaos in 2026.
| 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 bypassed 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). This is the archived 2026 route description. Trail access and future race routes require a fresh check of the organizer’s and forestry office’s notices. 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
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.
Where can I find the 2026 Diagonale des Fous results?
The 2026 race is complete. The organizer’s LiveTrail ranking page provides results and checkpoint times. Hugo Deck and Ruth Croft won; the results summary above includes their times and the final counts checked on October 19. Pre-race favourites lists are not finishing positions.
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
- Print a pace band for your goal time
- Estimate race calories and plan fueling
- 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
- LiveTrail 2026 Diagonale ranking and statistics, checked October 18 — https://grandraid-reunion.v3.livetrail.net/fr/2026/ranking?raceId=GRR
- u-Trail: Hugo Deck wins on his first start in 22:54:19 (media cross-check) — https://www2.u-trail.com/resultat-diagonale-des-fous-2026-hugo-deck-simpose-des-sa-premiere-participation-en-22-h-54-min-19-s/
- 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.