The Grand Raid de la Réunion, also called La diagonale des fous (The Bishops'/Madmen's Diagonal) is a mountain ultramarathon race. The race takes place annually in October on Réunion island, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, situated between Madagascar and Mauritius. The route with of elevation gain is reputed to be highly challenging, brutally difficult and one of the hardest footraces in the world.
Category of course
Three races are held at the same time: the Grand-Raid or Diagonale des Fous — with of altitude gain the Semi-Raid or Trail of Bourbon — with of gain Mascareignes Raid — with of gain
Dates of races in 2017
25th edition of the Diagonale des fous: 19 to 22 October www.grandraid-reunion.com 18th edition of the Trail de Bourbon: October 7th edition of the Mascareignes: October
Death This race has recorded three deaths since its inception. The 2002 edition was marked by the death of Gérard Bordage in the descent of the Kerveguen hillside and that of the Dutchman Guus Smit in the rampart of the Roche Écrite; while that of 2012 sees the death of Thierry Delaprez after a fall in a ravine at the Col de Fourche.
Winners
Men YearDistanceWinnerNationalityWinner time2024174,7 kmMathieu Blanchard France23h 25mn 02s2023165 kmAurélien Dunand-Pallaz France23h 21mn 23s2022165,7 kmBeñat Marmissolle France20h 14mn 36s2021168 kmDaniel Jung Ludovic Pommeret Italy France23h 02mn 21s2019170 kmGrégoire Curmer France23h 33mn 45s2018165 kmBenoît Girondel et François D'Haene France23h 18mn 48s2017165 kmBenoît Girondel France23h 53mn 53s2016167 kmFrançois D'Haene France23h 44mn 67s2015167 kmAntoine Guillon France 24h 17mn 40s2014172 kmFrançois D'Haene France 24h 25mn 02s2013163,5 kmFrançois D'Haene France 22h 58mn 00s2012170 kmKílian Jornet Burgada Spain 26h 33m 10s2011161,8 kmJulien Chorier France 23h 56m 35s 2010161,8 kmKílian Jornet Burgada Spain 23h 17m 26s2009148 kmJulien Chorier France 22h 09m 08s 2008148 kmPascal Parny France 21h 40m 48s 2007150 kmThierry Chambry France 23h 33m 41s 2006148 kmChristophe Jaquerod France 20h 39m 40s 2005140 kmCharles Fontaine France 19h 49m 36s2004140 kmRicheville Esparon France 20h 00m 57s2003130 kmRicheville Esparon France 18h 11m 27s 2002125 kmThierry Técher France 17h 55m 21s2001125 kmPascal Parny France 16h 1m2000125 kmGilles Diehl Thierry Técher France 16h 43m 1999125 kmCléo Libelle France 17h 50m1998125 kmCléo Libelle France 17h 45m1997125 kmPatrick Maffre France 15h 37m 35s1996123 kmJ.Philippe Marie-Louise France 16h 19m 27s1995121 kmJ.Philippe Marie-Louise France 14h 41mn 1994130 kmJ.Philippe Marie-Louise France 18h 29m1993129 kmPatrick Maffre France 16h 03 m1992J.Philippe Marie-Louise France 17h 20m1991Gilles TrousselierPatrick Maffre France 18h 28m1990Gilles Trousselier France 17h 11m1989Gilles Trousselier France 16h 2m
Women YearWinnerNationalityWinner time2024Manon Bohard France31h 49mn 55s2023Katie Schide United States27h 31mn 08s2022Courtney Dauwalter United States21h 37mn 36s2021Emilie Maroteaux France29h 54mn 59s2019Sabrina Stanley United States 30h 49mn 39s2018Jocelyne Pauly France 28h 54mn 26s2017Andrea Huser Switzerland 26h 34mn 52s2016Andrea Huser Switzerland 27h 44mn 13s2015Núria Picas Spain 28h 11mn 14s2014Nathalie Mauclair France 31h 27mn 28s2013Nathalie Mauclair France 28h 45mn 32s2012Émilie Lecomte France 33h 03m 17s2011Karine Herry France 31h 43m 30s2010Marcelle Puy France 31h 48m 50s2009Emilie Lecomte France 28h 58m 41s 2008Marcelle Puy France 26h 20m 40s 2007Marcelle Puy France 29h 5m 46s 2006Karine Herry France 26h 33m 46s 2005Sandrine Beranger France 27h 24m 57s 2004Alexandra Rousset France 27h 58m 41s 2003Simone Kayser Luxembourg 25h 59m 16s 2002Marcelle Puy France 20h 54m 28s 2001Corinne Favre France 20h 56m 2000Corinne Favre France 23h 25m 58s 1999Mireille Sery France 24h 44m 1998Corinne Favre France 22h 51m 1997Corinne Favre France 24h 35m 45s 1996Josiane Catois France 23h 06m 05s 1995Marcelle Puy France 24h 59m 1994Mireille Sery France 30h 47m 1993Régine Etienne France 27h 26m 1992Mireille Sery Thérèse Derolez France 28h 21m1991Marie Annick Laudes France 33h 09m1990Guylène Calpetard France 31h 58m1989Marie Thérèse Maussion France 25h 40m
References
Related books
"Grand Raid Reunion Island", a 68 pages comic book edited by UltraBD
External links
Official web site of Grand Raid de la Réunion Official forum of the web site of Grand Raid de la Réunion