Diagonale des Fous 2026: How to Watch the Legendary Grand Raid Live

Seven Thousand Runners Take to the Trails for the 2026 Grand Raid

Nearly 7,000 runners started across five distinct events at the Grand Raid on Réunion Island, launching a four-day endurance test that runs from Thursday, October 15, through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Réunion La 1ère reported that competitors began assembling for the Zembrocal Trail, Diagonale des Fous, La Mascareignes, Trail de Bourbon, and Métis Trail.

The field tackles grueling island paths under the watchful eyes of local supporters and a massive broadcast operation. Journalists, technicians, and presenters operate continuously from a central studio set up at the Stade de la Redoute in Saint-Denis, coordinating television, radio, and digital streams.

Chasing Prestige and Cash on the Diagonale des Fous

While thousands compete simply to finish the demanding 180-kilometer premier race, elite runners contest a prize purse that has grown significantly over recent cycles. La République des Pyrénées reported that the winner of the Diagonale des Fous receives 1,500 euros, marking a 50 percent increase from the 1,000-euro payout offered in 2023.

Organizers distribute descending prize money across the top five finishers in the general classification, with second place earning 1,200 euros, third taking 1,000 euros, fourth collecting 800 euros, and fifth receiving 600 euros. Category winners across Espoir, Senior, and Master divisions take home 500 euros, while local residents leading the general standings also secure a complimentary flight and race entry from the Association Grand Raid. These figures remain modest compared to the 20,000-euro payout awarded to the winner of the UTMB.

Wide-Open Contests Following Elite Withdrawals

A wave of withdrawals among pre-race favorites has left the men’s and women’s fields exceptionally unpredictable this year. In the absence of 2022 champion Benat Marmissolle, contenders such as Tom Evans, Jean-Philippe Tschumi, Hugo Deck, Thibaut Baronian, and Thibaut Garrivier shape the battle for the men’s podium, according to La République des Pyrénées. On the women’s side, observers track Sarah Vieuille—who finished fourth in both 2022 and 2025—alongside 2021 winner Émilie Maroteaux.

Runners from across France bring personal motivations to the island’s steep tracks. 26-year-old Solène Cazaux tackles the 51-kilometer Métis Trail starting Saturday, dedicating her effort to her late father. Meanwhile, veteran competitor Grégory Fabre pursues his ninth finish in the Diagonale des Fous, aiming to complete the 180-kilometer distance in approximately 43 hours.

Continuous Coverage Across Digital and Broadcast Channels

Broadcasters have deployed a 360-degree media operation to cover every stage of the competition from start to finish. Réunion La 1ère operates a 24-hour WebTV feed streaming live from Thursday at 7 p.m. until Sunday, October 18, at 8 p.m. local time. Viewers can access the feed through the Réunion La 1ère YouTube channel, france.tv, My Canal, and Molotov.

The coverage includes daily midday and evening television news broadcasts directly from the Stade de la Redoute, complemented by dedicated radio programming. Fans tracking individual runners can utilize official tracking portals hosted on the Grand Raid official website to monitor split times and leaderboard standings in real time.