Diagonale des Fous 2026: Hugo Deck Breaks 23 Hours in La Réunion, Ruth Croft Claims Another Major

Racing her first Diagonale des Fous, Hugo Deck (adidas Terrex) crossed the finish line at Stade de La Redoute in Saint-Denis, La Réunion, as the winner on Friday night after 22:54:19 of intense racing. Robin Juillaguet (Salomon) took second, with Belgium’s Jérôme Vanderschaeghe completing the 2026 men’s podium. New Zealand’s Ruth Croft (Adidas Terrex) dominated the women’s race.

The trail-running fairies had marked him out from the very beginning. But it was only after years of hard work that Hugo Deck (adidas Terrex), 26, finally delivered on the promise he had shown several years ago, conquering one of trail running’s monuments: the Diagonale des Fous.

On the longest course ever offered by the Réunion race, covering 180 km and 10,200 m of elevation gain, Hugo Deck spent a long time in the chasing pack before launching his move after the brutal ascent of Maïdo at km 124. From there, his rivals never saw him again.

Until then, Frenchman Vincent Esmiol (Kiprun) had gone clear in the opening kilometres. The Frenchman, winner of l’Echappée Belle 2025 and the MIUT 2026, reached Hell-Bourg at km 80.7, in the Salazie cirque, with a substantial lead over the runners behind him.

Pre-race favourite Tom Evans (Asics) was already losing ground. Arriving ten minutes after Hugo Deck and Jean-Philippe Tschumi (Kailas Fuga), the 2025 UTMB winner had endured a difficult night, including a fall that left his left brow and right knee bleeding.

Gautier Airiau (Scott) and local runner Judicaël Sautron , wearing his “Patience Reunion” mantra on his shorts, stayed with the lead group, while Thibaut Baronian (Salomon) was sitting in seventh. Thibaut Garrivier (Hoka), fifth at the 2025 UTMB, was forced to retire at Hell-Bourg after being hampered by stomach problems and pain in his knee and ankle.

Hugo Deck then made his move through the wild and rugged Mafate cirque, particularly on the climb back towards Maïdo Tête Dure. Under the intense midday heat, he gradually extended his lead over the chasing pack.

The other Frenchman, Robin Juillaguet (Salomon), 13th at the 2026 CCC, and second in the Lavaredo 80K this season, made a spectacular descent from the Diag’s iconic pass, climbing up the rankings to take second after the ascent to Chemin Ratinaud at km 147. It was his first Diag’, and even his first 100-miler.

It was on this section that he caught Vincent Esmiol, who was struggling with stomach and breathing problems and dropped to ninth at La Possession, km 157. He would later retire at Grande Chaloupe, km 164.

Jérôme Vanderschaeghe’s comeback

As so often happens in ultra-trail, other runners experienced the opposite scenario, finding a second wind in the second half and final stages of the race. That was the case for Belgium’s Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Asics), fifth in the race last year, who produced a comeback worthy of the most experienced and patient ultra-runners. He was 13th at Coteau Kerveguen, km 67, ninth at Hell-Bourg, km 80, and sixth at Maïdo, km 123, before moving onto the provisional podium at La Possession, km 157.

He would not relinquish that position, although he could not close the gap to Pyrenean runner Robin Juillaguet, who ultimately finished second, almost an hour behind the day’s winner, Hugo Deck. Deck finally secured the world-class victory many had predicted for him for years.

Hugo Deck finally gets his long-awaited breakthrough

Fifth at the CCC aged 21 in 2021, then a winner the following year of his first 100-miler at the Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB, the former basketball player born in Strasbourg had spent years coming up short at the biggest events.

Showing patience without ever giving up, he stepped back down to 100 km, finishing third in the Mont-Blanc 90K in 2023, winning the Ultra-Trail Cape Town in 2024, then taking the MaXiRace at Annecy two years running, in 2025 and 2026. Returning to the 100-mile distance and beyond, Hugo Deck has finally confirmed the talent he had shown all along.

This victory was no fluke. He arrived on the island several weeks before the start, spending three weeks acclimatising in Cilaos, a hot, rocky environment reminiscent of the Var trails where he has lived since he was 17. He also reccéd the new section added for this year’s edition at Hell-Bourg.

Race support was a family affair: his mother and grandmother followed him from checkpoint to checkpoint before meeting him at the finish. They were certain to experience emotions every bit as intense as those of the 26-year-old.

Réunion runners make their mark

The home crowd also had plenty to celebrate thanks to Judicaël Sautron’s fourth-place finish, just under 30 minutes off the podium. Already sixth in the race last year, the Réunion native continues to make steady progress.

Another Diag’ debutant, Nicolas Gourdon (New Balance), finished an excellent fifth after winning the Trail de Bourbon in 2023.

Tom Evans eventually finished seventh after a race marked by courage and sheer determination.

Thibaut Baronian (Salomon), Swiss runner Jean-Philippe Tschumi (Fuga), and Gautier Airiau (Scott) were all forced to retire, at Chemin Ratinaud, km 147, Maïdo, km 123, and Roche Plate, km 115, respectively.

Diagonale des Fous 2026 men’s top 10

1) Hugo Deck (France): 22:54:19

2) Robin Juillaguet (France): 23:51:54

3) Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Belgium): 24:10:35

4) Judicaël Sautron (France): 24:38:40

5) Nicolas Gourdon (France): 24:46:44

6) Matis Leray (France): 25:53:25

7) Tom Evans (Great Britain): 26:21:33

8) Rémi Gille (France): 26:36:04

9) Robin Coinus (France): 26:44:03

10) Stephen Roux (France): 27:00:15

Full results

Ruth Croft claims another prestigious victory

In the women’s race, New Zealand favourite Ruth Croft (Adidas Terrex) led from the opening kilometres. She ultimately claimed another major title after more than 27 hours of racing, finishing 11th overall.

Only American Alyssa Clark (On) was able to stay with her over the full 180 km, eventually finishing second, just under 1 hour 15 minutes behind Croft.

French runner Agathe Bes (Brooks) represented the tricolour with honour and resilience in the women’s race, finishing third, while Sarah Vieuille retired early at Plaine des Merles, km 94.

Diagonale des Fous 2026 women’s top 10

1) Ruth Croft (New Zealand): 27:13:23

2) Alyssa Clark (USA): 28:26:53

3) Agathe Bes (France): 29:05:19

4) Emma Stuart (Ireland): 30:35:28

5) Marion Fortin (France): 32:07:32

6) Ariane Wilhem (Switzerland): 32:39:07

7) Mélanie Finas (France): 33:48:16

8) Mélanie Keranflec’h (France): 34:11:28

9) Marie Janod (France): 34:47:27

10) Johanna Antilla (Finland): 36:11:49

Full results

Blandine L’Hirondel finishes the Mascareignes in tribute to Lola

Earlier in the day, Blandine L’Hirondel’s arrival at La Redoute was just as emotional. Winner of the Diagonale des Fous last year, and of the UTMB last August, the Frenchwoman instead lined up for the Mascareignes, a 74 km race with 3,800 m of elevation gain, which she completed in 11:57:30. For the two-time trail running world champion, performance was not the point. The gesture was: running in tribute to Lola, the daughter of her friends David and Valérie, who died this summer at the age of 23.

Through this challenge on Réunion’s trails, the Norman runner wanted to support friends who introduced her to trail running during an earlier visit to the island, and give them a powerful moment in memory of their daughter. The race was made even tougher by a fall during the night, when she was in contention for the podium, which dislocated her shoulder. She reached the finish with her arm held in place by a bandage. Despite the pain and the difficulties on the course, she was determined to see it through and honour her commitment.

“Yes, it was painful in every sense of the word, she told reporters at the finish in La Redoute. I had a few setbacks, but it was also mentally painful because of the cause I wanted to support. When I found out I was coming, I knew there were no words and no gifts that could replace Lola. This was the most beautiful thing I had found to bring a smile back to people who had lost theirs. Keeping Lola’s memory alive at the finish line was very important to me. ”

Earlier than Blandine L’Hirondel, Florian Bernabeu-Seguy (8:13:32) and Claire Jacquin (10:11:27) had crossed the Mascareignes finish line as the winners.

Mascareignes podiums

Men

1) Florian Bernabeu-Seguy (France): 8:13:32

2) Nirina Haja (Madagascar): 8:17:46

3) Jean-Charles Breton (France): 8:36:30

Women

1) Claire Jacquin (France): 10:11:27

2) Julia Velly (France): 10:58:27

3) Chloé Le Guillou (France): 11:01:14

Diagonale des Fous 2026: Hugo Deck Breaks 23 Hours in La Réunion, Ruth Croft Claims Another Major

Blandine L’Hirondel finishes the Mascareignes in tribute to Lola

Diagonale des Fous 2026 REPLAY