The Diagonale des Fous is an ultra-trail crossing the island of La Réunion, featuring one of the highest positive elevation gains in the global calendar. Access to the starting line involves a structured registration process with several steps, each subject to specific conditions. Understanding these steps before registration opens helps avoid unpleasant surprises on the big day.
Qualification System and ITRA Points for the Diagonale des Fous 2026
The organization of the Grand Raid de La Réunion requires runners to demonstrate sufficient endurance to start the race. This verification is based on a points scale related to qualifying races completed beforehand.
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The former “ITRA points,” long used as a reference by the trail community, are gradually being replaced by qualification systems specific to each organization. The Grand Raid has its own reference system, and the required points depend on the race targeted within the event (the Diagonale des Fous, the Trail de Bourbon, the Mascareignes, or the Zembrocal Trail).
A common pitfall: validating a qualifying race without checking that the scale corresponds to the Grand Raid’s reference, and not to that of the UTMB or another circuit. A qualifying trail for the UTMB is not automatically qualifying for the Diagonale.
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The official list of recognized races is published by the organization on its website, and it may vary from one edition to another. Additional resources detailing prerequisites, points, and the medical certificate are available on the So Sports website, which compiles the specific conditions for the 2026 edition.
Registration by Package or Lottery: Two Access Paths to the Bib Number
The Grand Raid offers two distinct registration modes. These are not variants of the same process, but rather two parallel paths with different rules.
Package with Guaranteed Bib Number
The package combines the bib number, round-trip flight to La Réunion, and accommodation on-site. The advantage is clear: the bib number is guaranteed upon purchase, without going through a lottery. The price varies depending on the departure airport and the chosen options.
These packages sell out very quickly. The opening of sales generates a crowd comparable to concert ticket sales, with virtual queues and stocks exhausted within minutes. Anticipating the opening date and being connected at the exact time is a condition for success, not just a recommendation.
The Classic Lottery
Runners who do not opt for the package register for the lottery organized by the Grand Raid. The number of bibs available through this channel is limited, and demand far exceeds supply each year. The draw is random: no performance criteria separate candidates at this stage, provided that the qualification prerequisites are met.
Those not drawn are placed on a waiting list. Depending on withdrawals, some runners may secure a bib in the weeks that follow, but there are no guarantees.
- The package offers the certainty of a bib number but requires a higher budget and logistics imposed by the organizer.
- The lottery allows the freedom to organize one’s trip but comes with a real risk of not securing a spot.
- Both paths require that the runner has validated their qualifying races before the registration deadline.
Medical Certificate for the Grand Raid: A Requirement Maintained Despite the Health Prevention Pass
Since September 2024, the French Athletics Federation has replaced the medical certificate with the Health Prevention Pass (PPS) for adult runners not licensed for FFA competitions. This system relies on an online self-assessment, which became paid in January 2026.
The Grand Raid de La Réunion does not follow this rule. Like other major trails organized outside the FFA framework, it continues to require a medical certificate of no contraindication issued within the last year in its specific regulations. This requirement is confirmed for the 2026 edition.
The distinction is far from trivial. The death of a runner at the Trail des Forts in Besançon has reignited the national debate on the relevance of the PPS for ultra-trail efforts. Several sports doctors believe that a video self-assessment does not replace a clinical examination for events that put the cardiovascular system to the test for several hours.
What Medical Examination to Plan Specifically
The Grand Raid regulations require a medical certificate but do not always specify the type of examination to be performed beyond the mention “no contraindication to competitive running.” For an ultra of this intensity, a resting electrocardiogram and a stress test are recommended by most sports doctors, even though only the certificate is legally required.
Making an appointment several months before the race is prudent. Slots with sports doctors become scarce as major trail calendar deadlines approach, and a certificate dated more than a year before the start will be refused.
Registration Calendar and Dates to Watch for the 2026 Edition
The Grand Raid organization publishes the registration opening dates on its official channels (website and Facebook page). The process generally follows a two-phase calendar: opening of packages first, followed by the lottery opening a few weeks later.
- Monitor official announcements from the end of the previous year, as dates may be moved forward or pushed back from one edition to another.
- Create and update your runner profile on the registration platform before opening, to avoid wasting time on the big day.
- Check that your qualifying race results are properly recorded and comply with the required scale.
- Prepare your medical certificate in advance, as it will be requested when finalizing the file.
The Grand Raid de La Réunion remains one of the most sought-after events in the global ultra-trail calendar. Each step of the registration process, from qualification to the medical certificate, filters candidates well before the start on the volcanic trails of the island. An incomplete file or a qualification not compliant with the correct reference is enough to close the door, regardless of the runner’s motivation.