Diagonale des Fous 2026: Hugo Deck wins in under 23 hours in Réunion, Ruth Croft claims another major title

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

The trail-running gods spotted his potential early. But it took years of hard work and a few more attempts before Hugo Deck (adidas Terrex), 26, finally delivered on the promise he had shown for years, winning one of trail running's great monuments: the Diagonale des Fous.

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

Until then, Frenchman Vincent Esmiol (Kiprun) had led the way from the opening kilometres. The Frenchman, winner of the 2025 Echappée Belle and the MIUT in 2026, reached Hell-Bourg at km 80.7 in the Salazie cirque with a substantial lead over his pursuers.

The pre-race favourite, Briton Tom Evans (Asics), was already losing ground. Reaching the checkpoint 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 bloodied.

Gautier Airiau (Scott) and local runner Judicaël Sautron , whose shorts carried the mantra “Patience Reunion”, were also in the leading group, while Thibaut Baronian (Salomon) was in seventh. Thibaut Garrivier (Hoka), fifth at the 2025 UTMB, was forced to drop out at Hell-Bourg with digestive issues as well as knee and ankle pain.

Hugo Deck then made his move through the wild, brutal Mafate cirque, particularly on the climb back towards Maïdo Tête Dure. In the intense midday heat, he gradually stretched his advantage over the chasers.

The other Frenchman, Robin Juillaguet (Salomon), 13th at the 2026 CCC, and runner-up at this season's Lavaredo 80K, produced a spectacular descent from the Diag's iconic pass to climb the rankings. After the ascent to Chemin Ratinaud at km 147, he moved into second place on his first Diag' and his first 100-miler.

It was on this section that he caught Vincent Esmiol, who was struggling with stomach and breathing problems and slipped to ninth at La Possession (km 157), before dropping out at Grande Chaloupe (km 164).

Jérôme Vanderschaeghe's comeback

As so often happens in ultrarunning, other athletes followed the opposite script, finding a second wind in the latter half and closing stages of the race. That was the case for Belgian Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Asics), fifth in last year's race, who produced a comeback worthy of the most experienced and patient ultra-runners. 13th at Coteau Kerveguen (km 67), ninth at Hell-Bourg (km 80) and sixth at Maïdo (km 123), he climbed onto the provisional podium at La Possession (km 157).

He would not relinquish that position, though he could not close the gap to Pyrenean runner Robin Juillaguet, who finished second, nearly an hour behind the day's winner. Hugo Deck had finally claimed the world-class victory many had expected of him for years.

Hugo Deck finally gets his breakthrough

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

He bided his time without ever giving up, stepping down to 100 km and finishing third in the 90 km Mont-Blanc race in 2023, winning the Ultra-Trail Cape Town in 2024, then the MaXiRace around Lake Annecy twice in a row, in 2025 and 2026. Returning to the 100-mile distance and beyond, Hugo Deck finally confirmed all the talent he had shown along the way.

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

On the course, support was a family affair: his mother and grandmother followed him from checkpoint to checkpoint before meeting him at the finish. They were sure to experience an emotion every bit as intense as the 26-year-old himself.

Réunion runners make their mark

Local fans also had plenty to celebrate thanks to Judicaël Sautron's fourth-place finish, less than 30 minutes off the podium. Already sixth last year, the Réunion native continues to progress steadily.

Another Diag' newcomer, Nicolas Gourdon (New Balance), secured an excellent fifth place after winning the Trail de Bourbon in 2023.

Tom Evans eventually finished seventh after a courageous, hard-fought race.

Thibaut Baronian (Salomon), Swiss runner Jean-Philippe Tschumi (Fuga) and Gautier Airiau (Scott) were all forced to drop out, 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 eventually claimed another major title after more than 27 hours of racing, finishing 11th overall.

Only American Alyssa Clark (On) could stay with her throughout the 180 km, eventually finishing second, just under 1 hour 15 minutes behind Croft.

Frenchwoman Agathe Bes (Brooks) represented her country with honour and resilience, taking third place in the women's race, while Sarah Vieuille dropped out 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 every bit as emotional. Winner of the Diagonale des Fous last year and the UTMB last August, the Frenchwoman lined up this time 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 adventure on Réunion's trails, the Normandy native wanted to support the 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 challenge was made even harder by a fall during the night, when she was in contention for the podium, which dislocated her shoulder. She crossed the finish line with her arm held in a bandage. Despite the pain and the difficulties on the course, she was determined to finish and honour her commitment.

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

Shortly before 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 wins in under 23 hours in Réunion, Ruth Croft claims another major title

Blandine L’Hirondel finishes the Mascareignes in tribute to Lola

REPLAY of the 2026 Diagonale des Fous