Tom Evans has revealed how a fall at 70km left him with a split eye and a shin injury as he battled to seventh place at the Diagonale des Fous.
The Briton completed the gruelling race across Réunion in 26:21:33, having faced roughly 110km more of its notoriously technical trails after the incident.
And amid his own difficulties, Evans also found time to look out for another struggling runner, with footage appearing to show him offering gels and water to Jean-Philippe Tschumi.
While Tschumi would ultimately be forced to withdraw, Evans reached the finish before sharing an honest account of a race which demanded plenty beyond his usual pursuit of a podium.
‘A very different kind of challenge’
The 180km race, featuring 10,200m of climbing, provided a spectacular but punishing challenge – and Evans was full of praise for both the island and its supporters.
“The Diag is a crazy race. The trails are wild, technical and beautiful, and the crowds are the best I’ve ever experienced in an ultra. There’s nowhere quite like this island,” he wrote on Instagram.
But his race changed dramatically before he had even reached halfway.
“At 70 km, I took a bad fall. I split my eye and injured the top of my shin. It changed the day, and made the miles that followed a very different kind of challenge.
“Thankfully nothing on my X-Ray but I will have some more scans this week to see what’s going on.”
With further investigations still to come, Evans acknowledged the difficult side of a sport which can deliver such extraordinary rewards.
“I always want to be honest about this sport: the highs are extraordinary, but there are hard days too. This was one of them.”
Looking out for a fellow runner
His determination to finish was only part of the story.
Footage below, which is credited to Gaylord Sagot, captured a moment of solidarity between Evans and Tschumi, with the Briton appearing to offer his fellow runner gels and water while both were struggling.
It was a gesture which prompted an emotional response on social media, and added another dimension to Evans’ own explanation of what the race meant to him.
“I decided to keep going and reach the finish – to show respect for this special race, for the people who make it what it is, and for this mythical island that gives so much to everyone who takes it on,” he wrote.
“I gave a lot to get to the finish line and I am really proud that I did.”
His sponsors were among those paying tribute, with Shokz summing up the effort: “Some races aren’t about pace. They’re about heart.”
Croft wins on Réunion debut
While Evans fought his own battle to reach the finish, Ruth Croft celebrated victory on her first appearance at the race to add another huge title to her glittering CV.
The New Zealander completed the course in 27:13:23, placing an outstanding 11th overall and finishing more than an hour clear of her nearest rival.
American Alyssa Clark took second in 28:26:53, with France’s Agathe Bes completing the women’s podium in 29:05:19.
In the men’s race, 26-year-old Frenchman Hugo Deck claimed victory in 22:54:19. Compatriot Robin Juillaguet was second in 23:51:54, followed by Belgium’s Jérôme Vanderschaeghe in 24:10:35.
For seventh-placed Evans, the lasting memories extended well beyond the results sheet.
“Grateful to have made it to the end,” he concluded. “La Diagonale des Fous, you’re unforgettable.”
