CIEL Ferney Trail 2026 Draws 4,200 Runners

The CIEL Ferney Trail returned for its 19th edition on 12 September 2026, drawing 4,200 participants to the lush and demanding trails of the Ferney domain in south-east Mauritius. From seasoned ultra-runners to first-time joggers, the event once again proved itself one of the island's premier sporting occasions — rain, mud and all. Morning showers turned the trails slippery and unpredictable, adding an extra layer of challenge to every distance on offer. Yet conditions did little to dampen spirits, with runners pushing through everything nature threw at them. On the flagship C-Care 35 km course, Réunion's Frédéric Duchemann claimed the men's title in an impressive 2h 56m 06s, edging out local athletes Sacha Lagesse and Vishal Ittoo. On the women's side, Eymeric Yolaine crossed the line first in 4h 08m 15s, followed by Virginie Nankoo and Estelle Lee Ping Ching. The Bank One 18 km saw Stephen Ash and Vanessa Monrouzeau take top honours for their respective categories, while the CIEL 10 km was won by Badal Dusooa and Lucy Victoria Naga. On the shorter Sunlife Fun Run 5 km — an ideal entry point for newer runners — Daksh Sookun and Anya Victoria Maria Nulliah finished first. Beyond the podium, however, the 2026 edition carried a deeper meaning. Two participants with disabilities took part in this year's event, a reminder that the Ferney Trail is about far more than competitive times. Inclusion and solidarity have quietly become part of the event's identity, and organisers appear committed to expanding that dimension in future editions. What makes the CIEL Ferney Trail particularly notable on the Mauritian sporting calendar is its breadth: a single event that accommodates elite athletes chasing course records alongside families enjoying a 5 km morning run through one of the island's most ecologically rich private reserves. Ferney itself — known for its endemic wildlife and forest — provides a backdrop that few trail races anywhere in the Indian Ocean region can match. As the event approaches its 20th anniversary, the question for organisers will be how to scale the experience without losing the community warmth that keeps runners coming back year after year.