180 km, 10,200 m of positive elevation gain, and a crossing of Réunion from south to north: the Diagonale des Fous holds a unique place in ultra-trail history.
Since its first edition in 1989, its course has evolved, its name has changed, and the Grand Raid has become a major trail event. In 2026, thousands of runners will gather again on the island for five races, from the Diagonale des Fous to the Métis Trail.
This story is also closely linked to Raidlight. Partner of the Grand Raid since 2015, the brand maintains a special connection with the race, notably through the participations of its founder Benoît Laval and a collection dedicated to Réunion.
Diagonale des Fous: history, course, and legend
From Marche des Cimes to Diagonale des Fous
The story begins on October 28, 1989. The race was then called la Marche des Cimes and offered a 112 km crossing with about 5,400 m of positive elevation gain. The route connected Saint-Denis, in the north of the island, to Le Tremblet, in the southeast.
This first edition already lays the foundation of what will define the race’s identity: crossing Réunion on foot through its interior relief, its cirques, and mountain trails. The direction of the crossing was later reversed, and the course continued to evolve over the editions.
Several names accompany this evolution before the Grand Raid adopts its final name in 1994. The Diagonale des Fous gradually becomes the event’s iconic format.
First edition under the name Marche des Cimes: 112 km across Réunion.
The Grand Raid adopts its final name and the Diagonale des Fous gradually builds its legend.
Start of the partnership between Raidlight and the Grand Raid de La Réunion.
The Diagonale covers 180 km and 10,200 m D+ between Saint-Pierre and Saint-Denis.
180 km and 10,200 m D+ in 2026: the scale of the challenge
For the 2026 edition, the start of the Diagonale des Fous is set at 10 p.m. from Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre. Runners have a maximum time limit of 66 hours to cover the 180 km and 10,200 m of positive elevation gain to the finish.
These numbers give a first idea of the difficulty, but the terrain of Réunion plays an equally important role. The succession of long climbs and descents, sometimes technical trails, night sections, and the duration of the effort require a very different approach than a smoother trail.
180 km · 10,200 m D+ · start from Saint-Pierre at 10 p.m. · 66 hours maximum · 3,000 participants maximum.
A crossing through the heart of Réunion’s landscapes
Much of the Diagonale’s identity comes from the territory it crosses. Runners move through the volcanic and mountainous landscapes of La Réunion, between cirques, cliffs, forests, high plateaus, and steep trails.
The route notably crosses the entire natural site of the Pitons, cirques, and remparts of La Réunion, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Entering the cirques and long isolated sections gives the race a particularly demanding dimension.
The weather adds another variable. On such a long race, temperature, humidity, rain, and night conditions can change drastically between start and finish. Gear choice, pace management, hydration, and nutrition then become crucial.
Why has the Diagonale des Fous become a legendary race?
Its history explains part of its status, but the atmosphere surrounding the Grand Raid matters just as much. For several days, runners, volunteers, supporters, and spectators live to the rhythm of the different races.
Some sections have become inseparable from the race, and the support along the route greatly enhances the experience. This connection between ultra-trail, territory, and community gives the Grand Raid a very different identity from a race organized around a single start and finish site.
For runners, finishing the Diagonale requires managing distance, elevation, sleep, nutrition, weather, and pace changes over sometimes several tens of hours. This accumulation builds the race’s reputation.
Grand Raid de La Réunion: five races
The Grand Raid now includes five formats. The Diagonale des Fous remains the longest race, but each race offers a different way to discover the trails of Réunion.
| Race | Distance | Elevation gain | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagonale des Fous | 180 km | 10,200 m elevation gain | Ultra-trail |
| Trail de Bourbon | 106 km | 6,200 m elevation gain | Ultra-trail |
| Mascareignes | 74 km | 3,800 m elevation gain | Long trail |
| Zembrocal Trail | 160 km | 8,460 m elevation gain | 4-person relay |
| Métis Trail | 51 km | 2,500 m elevation gain | Trail |
The Trail de Bourbon is the second major individual race with 106 km and 6,200 m of elevation gain. The Mascareignes offers a 74 km crossing from Hell-Bourg, while the Zembrocal lets you experience 160 km in a four-person relay. The Métis Trail completes the event with a 51 km route between Saint-Paul and Saint-Denis.
Raidlight and the Grand Raid: a story that has lasted since 2015
Raidlight became the official partner of the Grand Raid de La Réunion in 2015The relationship with the event also rests on a personal sporting history: long before the partnership, Benoît Laval had already started the Diagonale des Fous several times.
Since then, Raidlight has supported every edition and developed a collection specific to the colors of the Grand Raid. Some of these products are made in France in the brand’s workshops.
Benoît Laval and the Diagonale des Fous
For Benoît Laval, founder of Raidlight, the connection with the Grand Raid was first built as a runner. He has six participations in the Diagonale des Fous, a second place, and three top 5 finishes.
“With 6 participations including a 2nd place and three times in the top 5, the Grand Raid is the ultra that gave me extraordinary emotions and sparked my passion for the island of La Réunion.”
“The Grand Raid de La Réunion is a human-scale organization and a race that stands for friendliness, authenticity, adventure, sharing… values very close to those of Raidlight.”
This experience gives the partnership a special dimension. The Diagonale is one of the races that accompanied the sporting history of Raidlight’s founder before becoming one of the brand’s major annual events.
A Raidlight collection inspired by the Grand Raid de La Réunion
Every year, Raidlight develops a dedicated edition for the Grand Raid. Jerseys, packs, and accessories reflect the colors and graphic universe of the event with products designed for use on the trails as well as to keep a memory of the race.
For the 2026 edition, the Grand Raid jersey features a design inspired by La Réunion. Its lightweight, breathable honeycomb fabric is paired with a straight cut and a retroreflective print on the back. It is made in France.
A jersey specially designed for the 2026 edition, with a design inspired by the landscapes and identity of the Grand Raid de La Réunion.
Lightweight honeycomb fabric · straight cut · retroreflective print on the back.
Discover the 2026 edition
