Team DAF : The behind-the-scenes "mechanics" who make the Grand Raid win
The Diagonale des Fous is renowned as one of the world's most uncompromising races. If the feat is individual, the victory is often collective. In the shadow of the Reunionese trails, a unique structure is at work, driven by passion alone: Team DAF. A highly efficient volunteer organization that offers foreign and elite racers the keys to mastering the island. It's this approach to sharing and altruistic performance that has earned it a place in the Trail Running Awards "Service of the Year" category.
From personal passion to volunteer "War Room
The story begins with experience in the field. Fabrice Payet "DAF", the founder, ran the Grand Raid in 2004 and 2005. The race stuck with him, but he wanted to experience the event in a different way: by helping others.
The adventure began modestly in 2006 with Team Asics, but the real turning point came in 2007. That year, DAF introduced and assisted Julien Chorier, who won the event. The proof was in the pudding: on a hostile terrain like La Réunion, assistance makes all the difference. Since then, the structure has grown to become an essential reference point, attracting foreign riders in particular, who are unable to cope with local logistics.
Formula 1 logistics in the heart of the jungle
Today, The Team DAF is a logistical war machine made up of 67 volunteers. Students, alumni, colleagues and friends: they're all united by their desire to take part in the party.
Their mission? Turn refuelling into a pit stop worthy of Formula 1.
Massive presence: The team is deployed at all 12 authorized refreshment points on the course.
Speed and precision: equipment changes, nutrition, morale; everything is calibrated so that the rider doesn't lose a second.
Comprehensive support: The service begins well before the start, with strategic advice on how to prepare for the race.
This service, worthy of the biggest professional structures, is offered without distinction to the athletes under our care, in a spirit of pure mutual aid.
Outsmarting the traps of Intense Island
Why is such a structure vital? Because Réunion Island is not an easy place to get used to. The technical terrain, the humidity, the temperature variations and the complexity of access make the race almost impossible to win for a foreign (or metropolitan) runner left to his own devices.
The Team DAF provides this local expertise. They help the champions avoid the pitfalls of the island. Without this assistance, performing on the Grand Raid is a utopian dream for those who don't live on the island. They are the link between the athlete's talent and the brutal reality of the terrain.
A list of kingmakers
The statistics speak for themselves. Since Julien Chorier's victory in 2007, all the men's and women's winners of the Grand Raid have been assisted by DAF or The Team DAF (with the notable exception of François D'Haene and Kilian Jornet, supported by the powerful Salomon structure).
From a handful of runners, the team now supports over 50 elite athletes, confirming its status as a major player in the event.
Beyond pure performance, The Team DAF stands for values. It's the only place in the world where a service of this level of expertise is offered purely out of passion, on a not-for-profit basis. The aim is to reconnect with the exchange, sharing and transmission between dedicated volunteers and athletes from the ends of the earth.
