Victor Richard clinched victory and set a new record in the Tor des Géants, a grueling 335-kilometer race.
Victor Richard Triumphs in the Tor des Géants Ultra-Trail Race
Victor Richard, a 39-year-old Franco-Belgian, made history by winning the 16th Tor des Géants ultra-trail race, breaking the previous record set by François D'Haene in 2024. The gruelling race took place in the Aosta Valley, Italy, covering a distance of 335 km with 24,000 m of vertical ascent.
Richard, a specialist in very long-distance races, started the race on Sunday and finished on Wednesday morning in Courmayeur. He abandoned the Diagonale des Fous race last year, but bounced back with a vengeance this year. Before his victory at the Tor des Géants, he finished 6th at the Transgrancanaria (126 km) and won the Eiger Ultra-trail by UTMB (250 km, 18,000 m D+).
The race was a tough challenge, with Richard only sleeping for 90 minutes during the 3.5-day event. Despite the lack of rest, Richard maintained the lead he took from the beginning until the end of the race. His record-breaking time was 66h8'22''.
Francky Colle initially led the race, but had to stop due to an eye problem. Richard, who was active in the club "Team Salomon" before his victory, showed remarkable resilience and determination to claim the victory.
Before his triumph at the Tor des Géants, Richard had already established himself as a formidable competitor, with wins at the Montreux Trail Festival (396 km, 25,260 m D+) and the SwissPeaks (660 km, 49,000 m D+) last year. Richard was born in Reims, is married to a Belgian, and now lives near Chamonix in Saint-Gervais.
Richard's victory at the Tor des Géants is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and passion for ultra-trail racing. His record-breaking time and relentless determination have inspired many and set a new standard for ultra-trail runners.
