The ''Grand Raid de la Réunion'', also called ''La diagonale des fous'' (The
Bishops
A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
'/Madmen's Diagonal) is a mountain
ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is a footrace longer than the traditional marathon distance of . The sport of running ultramarathons is called ultra running or ultra distance running.
Various distances, surfaces, and formats are raced competitively, from the ...
race. The race takes place annually in October on
Réunion
Réunion (; ; ; known as before 1848) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France. Part of the Mascarene Islands, it is located approximately east of the isl ...
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
* 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
Women
References
Related books
*
Grand Raid Reunion Island, a 68 pages comic book edited b
UltraBD
External links
Official web site of Grand Raid de la RéunionOfficial forum of the web site of Grand Raid de la Réunion
*
Ultra-Trail World Tour
Sports competitions in Réunion
Athletics in Réunion
Recurring sporting events established in 1989
1989 establishments in Réunion
Ultramarathons in France
Trail running competitions
{{Réunion-sport-stub