The Grand Raid des Pyrenees 2024 celebrates its seventeenth edition in 2024 and is the ninth and penultimate event of the Gran Canaria World Majors series, which will finish in South Africa at the end of November.
Grand Raid des Pyrenees, commonly known as the GRP, is the people’s choice favourite French trail/ultra race. An amateur association with professional quality offers the best of the French Pyrenees to thousands of runners who still appreciate the friendly and authentic atmosphere and experience. This is why it is loved by French runners and why it remains a benchmark on the calendar.
Vielle-Aure, epicentre of the Grand Raid des Pyrenees
Vielle-Aure is a small village with a population of just over 300, situated in the Pyrenees, roughly halfway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic on the French/Spanish border. In 2008 the mayor of the town gave the go-ahead for the first edition, which attracted 420 runners, meaning that the race entry numbers far exceeded the population of the town that hosted it. The race was well received and word spread quickly as only two years later there were 1200 participants.
Over the years different distance races were added to deliver what the runners were asking for. The organisation grew, but always preserving the amateur spirit that it has never wanted to lose. In 2015 there were 2800 runners, 5000 in 2019.
Vielle-Aure, located in the department of Hugh Pyrenees, has always been the epicentre of the GRP and is situated in the Pyrenees National Park. Nearby there are numerous peaks of 2600-2700 metres as well as several ski resorts. It is a great place for trail running, a few hours from major cities and many trails to explore the landscape.
The GRP in numbers
6700 runners have registered for the 2024 edition. 22 nationalities. 6 races, the longest can also be raced by relay teams. 240 km of trails are marked and 25 aid stations. From registration opening on Wednesday 21st August to Sunday 25th August when a celebration meal for 2000 people is held in Vielle-Aure: the whole region enjoys this festival of trail and ultra races, the local communities get involved, which is summed up by over 900 volunteers ensuring that the runners enjoy an unforgettable experience.
Ultra 160, the classic
Of all the races on offer, the classic 100 mile distance is the points scoring race for the World Trail Majors series. It is the main event at the Gran Raid des Pyrenees 2024. It takes in the spectacular cirques of Gavarnie, Estaube and Troumouse, Piau-Engaly, the Aygues Cluses valley, runners travel through protected areas of ecology, fauna, and flora interest. 163.3 km with 9843 km of elevation, starting and finishing in Vielle-Aure, with a cut off time limit of 49 hours.
Sometimes the weather conditions are difficult due to the altitude and exposure, having to be shortened or neutralised in previous editions due to storms or even snow. The terrain is also technical in several sections, where it is not possible to run, unless you are a mountain goat, so it is advisable to be proficient and confident on mountain trails, some sections are quite long and feel quite remote in areas with low population, which adds a special charm to the route. The eleven aid stations mean its not too great a distance between food and water refills and there are two aid stations where drop bags are allowed, so you can support yourself with fresh socks\shoes or a special food treat.
For the first time the GRP Ultra 160 and its 600 participants will be able to score points in the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors series, the ninth and penultimate event of the series after races in Hong Kong, Arizona, Gran Canaria, Mount Fuji, Madeira, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Quebec and now the French Pyrenees.
Women challenging for the overall classification at Grand Raid des Pyrenees 2024
At this stage of the series, the rankings are still open. This is partly due to only two races are required to obtain as many points as possible, a measure taken to safeguard the health of the athletes and not to make the season unnecessarily expensive.
Strategy is part of trail running and two runners will be using it to get a good second result at the GRP. China’s Junyue Zheng (Kailas, ITRA 618) currently sixth in the general classification with an eighteenth place at, Hong Kong 100 and eleventh at Mt. FUJI 100. Improving the result from Hong Kong would allow her climb in the general classification. The other is Anne Champagne (Canada, Salomon, 654) who won Quebec Mega Trail at the beginning of July. A good result in GRP would allow a meteoric rise in the general classification, where she is currently eleventh.
But they will not be alone as they challenge each other: Juliette Archambeau (France, ITRA 668) who has won three of her last four races this season and was second in the other; Aurélie Morisaux (France, 606) who won last year’s Tour des Cirques at the GRP; and Yanid Arango (Colombia, 610), fifth in the Tour des Lacs in 2023.
Strong male entries in the GRP
A strong line-up of French runners will be fighting for the GRP victory and the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors points. Jan Gutermann (ITRA 843), recent winner of the Maxi-Race 48 km and in 2023 the Ultra Tour des 4 Massifs. Nicolas Gaillot (843), winner last year at Trail du Mourtis, third in 2022 in the Luchon Aneto Trail and although he has two retirements in the GRP, let us hope the third time is the charm. Sébastien Capus (809) who this year has won Trail Glazig and a top 20 in Andorra 100 by UTMB. Maxime Jaouen (833) who this year has already made his debut in ultra distance by winning the Tarn Valley Trail at 152 km.
The French «armada» will also have opposition, for example, Japan’s Hiroki Shimura (ITRA 694) with two top 30 finishes at Mt. FUJI 100 and a fourth place at the Ouray 100 Endurance Run, or from the United Kingdom, James Elson (Centurion Running, 609), organiser of the South Downs Way 100 and with extensive experience in ultras such as Western States, Tor des Geants, Rocky Raccoon, Leadville 100, The Bob Graham Round and many more.
As can be seen, the ultimate aim of the Grand Raid des Pyrenees is the “ordinary” runner, but that does not mean that great athletes do not want to take part in a prestigious and demanding race, a gem that is not so well known outside the borders of France until now.
The GRP, much more than a race
As usual, the premier race is just one of 6 races to enjoy the same mountains at different levels of difficulty, and for some it is an event to double up by running two or even three races!
In Tour des Cirques (121 km, +7400 m) the French runners Valentin Joachim (ITRA 819), fourth in the classic La 6000D just a few days ago, Quentin Camou Juncas (773) with experience in the shorter distance of Cirques and the Spaniards Unai Dorronsoro (774), recent winner of the Gran Trail Sobrarbe and Santiago García (771), second in the Ultramediterranea Terres de Trail, stand out.
In Tour des Lacs (80 km, +5200 m), the Frenchman Robin Bonduelle (ITRA 860), who won the Andorra 100 by UTMB over the same distance of 80 km in June, stands out. Pierre Comet (825), with four races in the season without dropping out of the top 5. Anthony Pipitone (813) fourth in Trans Aubrac over 105 km.
Tour de Moudang (63 km, +3600 m) counts on Emeline Oudet (France, Wise, ITRA 703) winner in 2022 of the Tour des Lacs and outstanding positions in TDS at UTMB (sixth), Templiers (sixth), Marathon du Mont-Blanc (fifth) or MIUT 83 km (third); Angels Llobera (Spain, Inov8, 685) with victories this season in Oisans Trail Tour and Montsec. In the men’s race, Elliot Cardin (Canada, Norda, 810), who could avenge his DNF at Quebec Mega Trail, Guillaume Palasset (France, 791) and Arkaitz Galíndez (Spain, Artibai Mendigoizale Taldea, 747) are expected to fight for the places of honour.
The marathon distance, Tour de la Géla (45 km, +3400 m) and will have among the favourites Rachid El Morabity (Morocco, Raidlight, ITRA 864), «The fox of the desert», with ten victories in the Marathon des Sables, including 2024.
And finally, also marathon distance but significantly faster is the Tour du Néouvielle (43 km, +2400 m) where the main contenders are Tiago Vieira (Portugal, BigK, ITRA 870), Melaine Le Palabe (France, Scott, 831), Nuno Fernandes (Portugal, 775) and Benjamin Tremont (France, 720) and in the women’s category Mathilde Sagnes (France, Merrell, 753).
How to follow Grand Raid des Pyrenees 2024
You can follow Grand Raid des Pyrenees on social networks, live timing, and the live streaming of the finish line.
Web: https://www.grandraidpyrenees.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandRaidDesPyrenees
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandraidpyrenees
YouTube (French): https://www.youtube.com/@grandraidpyrenees/streams and https://www.youtube.com/@WorldTrailMajors/streams
Live standings: https://grp.livetrail.net/
Gran Canaria World Trail Majors Rankings: Provisional Ranking
Please see image attached for timetable according to time zones.
