Tor des Geants: François D’Haene wins the Endurance Race 2024

François D’Haene wins the toughest Trail endurance race in the world!

The TOR des Géants is one of the most extreme ultratrail competitions in the world, with a route that crosses the paths of the Aosta Valley and the Alta Vie 1 and 2 in Italy for 330 kilometres, with over 24,000 meters of positive difference in altitude.

Every year, athletes from every corner of the globe face the tough mountain terrain and the physical and mental challenges that this event offers.

The 2024 edition was a particularly exciting event, with an unexpected result that saw François D’Haene win on his debut in this legendary competition.

With an extraordinary performance, the French champion crossed the finish line with a time of 69 hours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds, proving once again that he is one of the most resistant and prepared athletes on the international scene.

 

TOR des Géants won by François D’Haene

François D’Haene wrote a memorable page in the history of the TOR des Géants 2024, taking his first victory in his first participation.

After chasing the race leaders for much of the 330 kilometres, D’Haene took the lead at the Ollomont life base, overtaking rival Louis Calais, who was plagued by physical problems.

From that moment, the 38-year-old Frenchman firmly maintained the lead of the race until the finish line in Courmayeur, where he was warmly welcomed by the public and his family.

This year’s edition, despite missing the long-awaited confrontation with the multiple Italian champion Franco Collé, provided moments of great emotion.

D’Haene had to deal with initial difficulties, mainly linked to the bad weather, but maintained his calm and concentration, characteristics that made the difference in the crucial moment of the race.

How François D’Haene managed the TOR des Geants

The key to François D’Haene’s success at the TOR des Géants® 2024 was undoubtedly his impeccable race management.

video of TOR des Geants start

Although he immediately faced strong opponents such as Louis Calais, who led for over a day and a half, D’Haene kept his nerve knowing that the race is won over distance.

He maintained a constant pace and calculated his stops and sleep time, remaining focused on his race plan.

The decisive moment came in Ollomont, when Calais had gastro-intestinal problems that required medical intervention.

D’Haene knew how to exploit this opportunity, overtaking his rival and maintaining control of the race until the end.

On the last night, now in the lead, the Frenchman showed all his experience, managing his remaining energy perfectly and tackling the final passages with determination.

The passage to Malatrà, where he gave himself up to the photographers, marked the prelude to the victory.

The Reasons for Victory at the TOR des Géants by François D’Haene

Several factors contributed to François D’Haene’s victory at the 2024 TOR des Géants.

a) firstly, his ability to adapt to a race of this length was fundamental.

Although he had already won the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) four times, the TOR represented an even more extreme challenge for the Frenchman, being longer and with a more demanding difference in altitude.

His strategy, based on patience and endurance, proved successful.

b) secondly, D’Haene showed uncommon mental strength.

In an event like the TOR des Géants, the psychological component plays a crucial role, especially in the final stages when accumulated tiredness can compromise performance.

The French champion was able to maintain control, avoiding tactical errors and taking advantage of the right moments to attack.

c) thirdly, the scouting of the route and the sharing of race management techniques done this summer with the Salomon Team was particularly useful in understanding the technical difficulties

d) the careful monitoring of the competitors was also useful and strategic to avoid “tricks” and “course cuts” which are very frequent among amateur and elite athletes who participate in Endurance races

4) finally, his impeccable physical preparation, the result of years of experience and targeted training, made the difference in the most difficult sections of the route.

His form allowed him to overcome the classic moments of crisis that the TOR regularly presents and which, instead, stopped other competitors, as demonstrated by the difficulties encountered by Louis Calais.

The Secrets in the Preparation of the TOR des Géants by François D’Haene

François D’Haene’s preparation for the TOR des Géants was taken care of down to the smallest detail with a professional training plan.

Despite being at his first participation, the French Athlete demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the route and its pitfalls, thanks also to the advice of his Salomon teammate and friend Giuliano Cavallo and to the reconnaissance of the route carried out together this summer in August.

Cavallo, a TOR veteran, provided D’Haene with valuable suggestions for dealing with the specific difficulties of the race.

D’Haene’s training was aimed at tackling long hours of running in difficult conditions, with mountain sessions aimed at improving muscular endurance and the ability to adapt to climate change.

Furthermore, the Frenchman worked a lot on managing fatigue and sleep, two crucial aspects for a competition that lasts several days and nights.

Techniques that are also normally used by TRM Coaches and optimized in the Transpyrena Ectreme Project.

Another important factor was his mental preparation.

Multi-day block training sessions that simulated the psychological challenges of the race, such as loneliness at night and managing pressure, allowed D’Haene to stay sharp even in the most difficult moments.

François D’Haene’s Satisfaction for its Victory at the TOR

After crossing the finish line, accompanied by his three children and welcomed by his wife, François D’Haene expressed his joy at having completed what he called an “incredible journey”.

Interviewed by the official commentator Silvano Gadin, D’Haene underlined how exciting it was to experience the TOR des Géants together with his family and friends, and thanked the Italian public for the warm support along the entire route and said smiling:

“It was a super trip, but it’s not something you do every day.

It was truly a beautiful trip, which you don’t do every day but it was worth doing… So many emotions, incredible landscapes,

the wind, the snow, the sun during the day and then the welcome of the Italians, people, adults and children in all the towns and also in the mountains, along the route, everywhere.

It was amazing like that. I will remember it for a long time”

After the awards ceremony, the champion joined his friends to celebrate the triumph, in particular hugging Giuliano Cavallo, who had revealed the secrets of the TOR to him.

This moment of celebration was the culmination of an extraordinary performance that will remain in the history of the TOR des Géants.

François D’Haene’s victory at the TOR des Géants 2024 demonstrated once again his incredible ability to excel in the most difficult ultratrail races in the world.

With a combination of physical preparation, mental resistance and perfect race management, the French champion has achieved one of the most prestigious titles in the world of mountain racing.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Get Ready for

TRM Training Plan 330 & TOR Trail Running Camp 2025

If you dream of taking part in an Endurace Trail race or other Ultra Trail races and want to prepare them in the best possible way, with professional tables, sign up now for the TRM Training Plan 330.

This training program, developed by Trail Running Movement coaches, is specifically designed to prepare you for the toughest challenges, with a path designed to help you improve:

• competition calendar, training, resistance and strength
• nutrition and sports integration
• strategy and nutrition during the race

A complete training program just like the great ultratrail champions.

Furthermore, the TOR Trail Running Camp 2025 will be the ideal place to hone your skills directly on the trails of the TOR des Géants.

The official camp dates will be published in October 2024, but don’t miss the opportunity to register early.

You will be followed by the best TRM Coaches and you will be able to learn all the secrets to best face a competition of this magnitude.

Don’t forget to take the Self-Assessment TEST for the TOR, Swiss Peaks and other Endurance trail races: here

To stay updated on all the news and receive exclusive advice from TRM athletes and coaches, subscribe to the TRM News Newsletter.

You will have access to exclusive content and discover the secrets of the Ultra Trail world champions, which will help you improve your performance and achieve your Trail Running goals.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

#TORdesGeants #FrançoisDHaene #UltraTrail #TrailRunning #EnduranceTrailRunning #ValleDAosta #TRMTrainingPlan #TrailRunningCamp #UltraTrailChampion #MountainRunning #TOR2024 #TrailRunningChallenge #TrailRunningMovement #TRMCoach #TrailRunningTraining #TrailRunnningPlan #Courmayeur #TrailRunningItaly #TrailRunningNutrition #TrailRunningRace #TrailRunningCompetitions #UltraTrailPreparation #TRMCamp