Grand Raid of the Reunion, François d’Haene, a third ultra? On Thursday the 23rd of October, at 10.30pm local time, François d’Haene will be at the start of the 22e edition of the Diagonale des Fous also called Grand Raid. The crossing of the island from the South to the North, from the Ravine Blanche in Saint-Pierre to the Redoute stadium in Saint-Denis will follow a route which has been slightly modified for security reasons and will reach approximately 174km and 10 000m +. In 2013, with perfect weather conditions, François d’Haene (Team Salomon) won this ultra trail widening the gap with those behind him, Freddy Thevenin and Pascal Blanc. “The Grand Raid of the Reunion, it’s really a special atmosphere, with stunning views and an omnipresent and numerous public who pushes you all along the trails, day and night. Last year I could really appreciate all of this thanks to the comfortable lead I got from the middle of the race which let me manage my strengths and enjoy it. The length and the diversity of the route are impressive. We face climates, landscapes and terrains really different. Starting with a volcanic atmosphere, it becomes much more tropical in the Cilaos cirque, before getting into the Mafate’s heat and finally getting out on the west side of the island and finishing in the heat of the coast.” François d’Haene, won this year the Ultra-Trail Mont Fuji, the Ice Trail Tarentaise part of the Skyrunner World Series, the UTMB and finished 2nd of the 80K of the Skyrunning World Championship in Chamonix. “At the beginning of the season, I had one big challenge in mind: running 2 ultras one after the other, the UTMF and the UTMB, doing my best and finishing with the best ranking possible. My victories of both races are wonderful presents, which let me dream about one more victory almost unthinkable at the beginning. But above it placed me in a really good dynamic for the Diagonale des Fous. I cannot tell that I have fully digested the UTMB and that I am totally fresh for the Grand Raid, but the desire to do to long running sessions and being in mountains came back and I am looking forward to be in the Reunion.” The Diagonale des Fous is the last stage of the Ultra Trail World Tour and the third that François will be participating. With already 2 victories, finishing in the first 10, he should win the challenge. ‘One more challenge which give me even more motivation. To sum up, after an extraordinary season, I am really excited by this race, which is a bonus whatever the result! On the start line of the UTMB I wasn’t really under pressure and confident of my last results. Favorite or not, for this last ultra, I am not stressed and it will be with a great pleasure that I will be on the start line with many great runners and possible winners. Among the various opponents announced, we can name: Iker Karrera, Javier Dominguez, Jason Schlarb, Stefano Ruzza, Tsuyoshi Kaburaki, Gediminas Grinius, Antoine Guillon, Ludovic Pommeret, Pascal Blanc, Freddy Thévenin, Didier Mussard, Julien Chorier, Xavier Thévenard, Patrick Bohard, Cyril Cointre, Aurélien Collet, Antoine Guillon, Christophe Le Saux, David Pasquio, Fabrice Armand… After the UTMB, François, 28 years old, tried to reconcile recovery, training and grape-harvest with his wife Carline, in the Domain du Germain, in the Beaujolais. The last sweatshop finished, François went for three long sessions in the Vercors, the Ecrins and the Gapençais. Some weeks before he also achieved the tour of the Vercor by bike in 7 hours, a long and nice ride of 200k between the Beaujolais, the Prealpes and the Savoie. “Diversify my training playgrounds motive me much more. I am always happy to discover new mountain ranges and trails. I don’t have any preferences, I just need to be face to the mountain, face to big lands which only ask to be roamed. A little bit like when you are in the south of the Reunion island and that you imagine to go up to the north passing by all the cirques and summits of the island” Race : grandraid-reunion grandraid-reunion https://facebook/salomonrunning Crédit photos JP VIDOT (GRR) / Droz Photo (UTMB)
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:38:33 +0000
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