Mathieu Blanchard Triumphs at Diagonale des Fous in Record Time

The French ultra-trail runner overcame injury concerns to win the grueling 175 km race at La Réunion on his first attempt.

Mathieu Blanchard completed the Diagonale des Fous in 23 hours, 25 minutes, securing victory by more than 40 minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Despite a challenging preparation due to a tendon injury, Blanchard's performance was dominant, maintaining the lead from early in the race.
Jean-Philippe Tschumi of Switzerland finished second, followed by American Ben Dhiman in third place.
This year's race was the longest in its history, with a total distance of 175 kilometers and an elevation gain of 10,150 meters.
Blanchard's win marks a significant achievement, as he was uncertain about participating until shortly before the race due to health issues.