Diagonale des Fous - Elevation Profile, Aid Stations and Cutoffs
The Diagonale des Fous (Grand Raid de La Réunion) is a 180.6km ultra-trail with around 10,199m of elevation gain across volcanic ridges and tropical forest, from Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis. The overall cutoff is 66 hours, and the highest listed point is Croisée Coteau Kerveguen at 2,476m. Winning times are typically around 23–24 hours.
Course profile
- Distance
- 180.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 10,199 m
- Elevation loss
- 10,161 m
- Highest point
- Croisée Coteau Kerveguen (2,476 m)
- Cutoff
- 66h
- Typical winning time
- ~23h30
Heat, humidity, and technical volcanic terrain define the race as much as the vertical. Hell-Bourg and Ilet Savannah are key life bases with drop-bag support; many other posts allow crew but not bags. Night running is inevitable for almost the entire field. Treat fluid and sodium planning as seriously as climbing fitness - tropical conditions inflate finish times beyond what alpine races suggest.
Data is approximate and courses change between editions - always verify against the official race guide.
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~9 weeks · peak ~8 h/week · 5 run + 2 strength days
For a 180.6 km race, aim for about 16 h/week at peak. Set your availability to 18 h/week in the app for the headroom to build there gradually.
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Aid stations and checkpoints
| Checkpoint | Km | Cumulative gain (m) | Cumulative loss (m) | Cutoff | Crew | Drop bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start - Saint-Pierre (Ravine Blanche) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Domaine Vidot | 14 | 672 | 32 | Fri 01:30 | Yes | No |
| Notre-Dame de la Paix | 33.4 | 2,148 | 468 | Fri 07:00 | Yes | No |
| Nez de Boeuf | 45.4 | 2,798 | 782 | Fri 10:30 | Yes | No |
| Mare à Boue | 55.6 | 2,894 | 1,295 | Fri 13:00 | Yes | No |
| Croisée Coteau Kerveguen | 67.6 | 3,890 | 1,421 | Fri 17:30 | No | No |
| Gîte de Bélouve | 76.4 | 3,966 | 2,469 | Fri 20:30 | Yes | No |
| Hell-Bourg (base vie) | 80.4 | 4,032 | 3,044 | Sat 01:00 | Yes | Yes |
| Plaine des Merles | 93.6 | 5,309 | 3,518 | Sat 06:00 | No | No |
| Départ Sentier Scout | 95.8 | 5,353 | 3,724 | Sat 07:00 | Yes | No |
| Grand Place les Bas | 107.6 | 5,845 | 5,181 | Sat 11:30 | Yes | No |
| Roche Plate - Plateau Cerf | 116.2 | 6,902 | 5,651 | Sat 16:30 | Yes | No |
| Maïdo - Tête Dure | 123.7 | 7,966 | 6,060 | Sat 20:30 | No | No |
| Ilet Savannah (base vie) | 140.3 | 8,084 | 7,956 | Sun 00:15 | Yes | Yes |
| Chemin Ratinaud - Kalla | 147.7 | 8,736 | 8,306 | Sun 03:00 | No | No |
| La Possession | 154.9 | 8,939 | 8,922 | Sun 06:30 | Yes | No |
| Grande Chaloupe | 164.3 | 9,310 | 9,308 | Sun 09:00 | Yes | No |
| Colorado | 173.6 | 10,140 | 9,461 | Sun 13:30 | Yes | No |
| Saint-Denis - La Redoute (Finish) | 180.6 | 10,199 | 10,161 | Sun 16:00 | Yes | No |
Data is approximate and courses change between editions - always verify against the official race guide. Source: official race guide, verified July 17, 2026 - Official race website
FAQ
How long is the Diagonale des Fous?
The Diagonale des Fous covers approximately 180.6km from Saint-Pierre (Ravine Blanche) to Saint-Denis (La Redoute) on Réunion Island.
How much elevation gain does the Diagonale des Fous have?
The race has around 10,199m of cumulative elevation gain and a similar amount of loss over 180.6km of volcanic and forest trails.
What is the cutoff time for the Diagonale des Fous?
The overall cutoff is 66 hours, with eliminatory barriers at major checkpoints from Domaine Vidot through to the finish in Saint-Denis.
What is the highest point of the Diagonale des Fous?
The highest listed point on the course data is Croisée Coteau Kerveguen at 2,476m, reached around km 68.
Where are the main life bases on the Diagonale des Fous?
Hell-Bourg (about km 80) and Ilet Savannah (about km 140) are the principal life bases with drop-bag access. Multiple other checkpoints allow crew - check the checkpoint table for flags.
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