Diagonale des Fous 2026: Who will succeed Baptiste Chassagne and Blandine L’Hirondel?

With neither defending champion returning, the Diagonale des Fous looks more open than ever on a remodelled, extended course. Between hungry rookies and seasoned contenders chasing redemption, the battle promises to be unforgettable on Réunion Island. A look at the field with just days to go before the start.

With the last seven men’s winners absent, the Diagonale des Fous is guaranteed to crown a new champion. That is no slight on Antoine Guillon, the 2015 winner, a seven-time podium finisher who is still lining up this year. The next champion will be found among the 2,839 entrants for the 2026 edition.

The question is whether the rookies or the race regulars will make the most of their opportunity in Réunion, with Frenchmen Baptiste Chassagne, Mathieu Blanchard, Benat Marmissole, Ludo Pommeret, Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz, and Italian Daniel Jung, the winners of the last seven editions, all absent.

Hungry rookies and seasoned contenders chasing redemption

The Briton Tom Evans (Asics) naturally stands out as one of the favourites given his pedigree. But his season has been a failure so far, which hardly works in his favour. Forced to drop out before the 100 km mark at Hardrock 100 after struggling with the altitude, then ruled out of the UTMB Mont Blanc by a stomach virus, Evans can at least take advantage of arriving at the start line fresh. The downside is that he has no race experience on these highly distinctive trails.

The exact opposite is true of Swiss runner Jean-Philippe Tschumi (Kailas Fuga), whose name immediately comes to mind when listing the favourites. Tschumi finally managed to finish the UTMB, which had eluded him for so long, last August, taking 10th place. Can he follow that up by reaching the top step of the podium at the Diagonale des Fous after finishing second in 2024 and 2022, and third in 2023? That is exactly what we are hoping for, and the Swiss runner will arrive full of confidence.

Frenchman Vincent Esmiol (Kiprun) is neither a Diag’ newcomer nor a regular. On his first appearance, he finished sixth last year. That is a clue in itself. His preparation took him to the top step at UTOBI in late July, setting a course record over the 72 km and 4,300 m of elevation gain. That came a few months after he dominated the MIUT, and a year after winning the full-distance Echappée Belle, another superbly rocky challenge.

Also representing the mainland French contingent, Hugo Deck (Adidas) has prepared for his Réunion debut by arriving well ahead of time on this unfamiliar terrain, scouting the key sections and acclimatising. He will presumably have used those three weeks to build on his summer victory in the 75 km KAT 100 by UTMB in Austria, as well as his back-to-back wins at the MaXi Race in 2025 and 2026.

Gautier Airiau (Scott) could play the spoiler after proving his ability on technical terrain, with runner-up finishes in the 110 km Restonica trail in 2026, the 2026 MIUT and the 2025 TDS.

The veteran Thibaut Baronian (Salomon) and Thibaut Garrivier (Hoka) will not be pushed aside easily. Baronian only recently returned to racing after knee surgery and two years lost to injury. His runner-up finish at the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges in late September put him back in the mix, but will it be enough to challenge for the top spots?

As for Thibaut Garrivier, he never makes much noise, but his talent and work ethic should ensure that he arrives on the start line fully prepared.

Léo Rogaume (Kailas Fuga) will certainly have the support of the locals, having lived on the island for years and knowing it like the back of his hand. Third at the 2025 TDS and twice in the Diagonale des Fous’ top 20, finishing 18th in 2022 and 16th in 2023, his steady progress could take him closer to the front of the race.

Fabrice Payet will be the leading candidate to put Réunion’s colours on top of the podium. Sixth in the Diag’ in 2025 and 2023, he won the Ultra Trail des Géants on his home island in 2025, a race comparable in scale to the 2026 Diag’ at 180 km and 9,700 m of elevation gain. Last May, he also won the Raid 974, again on home ground, over 101 km and 5,800 m of elevation gain. One to watch closely. Belgian Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (Asics), fifth last year and seventh in 2022 at the Diagonale des Fous, can also aim higher after winning the Monte Rosa by UTMB 2026.

Jérôme Vanderschaeghe (centre) celebrating his victory at Monte Rosa 2026

The other outsiders include Josh Wade (The North Face), the American who finished third at the 2025 UTMB and will discover Réunion, along with Frenchmen Rémi Berchet (fifth here in 2023) and Martin Kern (Arcteryx), fifth in 2024. Swiss runner Diego Pazos will be there to relive the good memories of his fourth-place finishes in 2015, 2017 and 2024, and will race this edition alongside his wife, Maya. He will leave the pressure to the others.

Entry list

Ruth Croft the overwhelming favourite among the women

The women’s field is every bit as deep as the men’s. Especially with the announcement that current world No. 1 in ultratrail, New Zealander Ruth Croft (Adidas), will be competing.

Forced to withdraw from the 2026 UTMB Mont-Blanc two days before the start to return home to be with her mother, the 2025 UTMB champion spent a month running on her native soil, including in Arthur’s Pass National Park. It is hard to see who could trouble her, especially after she wrote on social media that she had “never felt so good in her career”. Even if she has never raced on these trails…

Marianne Hogan could have been one of the New Zealander’s serious challengers. Third at the Western States in June 2026, the Canadian Team Salomon athlete unfortunately suffered a calf fascia tear four weeks before the Grand Raid. She had to stop running for 15 days and could only resume a week before the start. But you never know, especially with the strength of character she possesses…

French runners Sarah Vieuille (Kiprun) and Manon Bohard (Hoka) should also be at the sharp end. Vieuille produced a masterclass to win the latest TDS, and knows the Diagonale well, having twice finished fourth, in 2022 and 2025.

Jura native Manon Bohard also knows Réunion’s pitfalls inside out, having won here in 2024. After a stress fracture to the sacroiliac joint disrupted the start of her season, Bohard returned to top form by winning the full Echappée Belle in August.

Manon Bohard at the latest Restonica Trail

French runner and island resident Émilie Maroteaux is another former winner, taking the title in 2021 before following it up with a podium finish in 2023, when she was third. Forced to drop out last year, she appears to have found her form again in 2026, with third place at the Restonica Trail in July, over 110 km and 7,200 m of elevation gain, and a win at the Raid 974.

As for Claire Bannwarth (Fuga), she has resumed her relentless racing schedule after an unavoidable operation on an ankle tendon. This summer, she raced one ultra after another, most recently the Tor 330, where she finished fifth.

German runner Eva Sperger (Salomon) is no stranger to the course either, having finished fourth at the Grand Raid in 2023.

Runner-up at the 2024 TDS and winner of Ultra Snowdonia earlier this season, Swiss runner Ariane Wilhem (Compressport) thrives on demanding courses and conditions, but will be discovering Réunion.

The same goes for American Alyssa Clark (On), who has enjoyed an excellent 2026 season, including third place at the 2026 TDS and second at the Canyon Endurance Runs.

We should also mention another former winner, Pyrenean runner Jocelyne Pauly (who won in 2018), who is taking part this time to accompany her brother rather than chase a performance of her own.

Entry list