Christophe Le Saux

About

Christophe Le Saux — nicknamed 'le jaguar' after a decade spent living in the jungles of French Guiana — is a French ultra-trail icon born on June 13, 1972 in Revin, Ardennes, and one of the most widely travelled and prolific competitors in the sport's history. A nurse by training, he entered ultra-trail competition in 2004 at the Grand Raid Caroux-Occitanie, winning his category on debut. He went on to accumulate over 50 race victories and dozens of podium finishes at demanding and exotic events, helping carry trail running from a French mountain niche to a global adventure discipline. His résumé spans the Tor des Géants — the 330km, 24,000m loop around the Aosta Valley, where he earned four podiums including a 3rd place ex æquo with Antoine Guillon in 2014 (79h02) — the Grand Raid de la Réunion (winner 2005), Marathon des Sables, UTMB Mont-Blanc, the Track Outback Race in Australia, Guyane'Trail, the Guada Run in Guadeloupe, and the Cordillera Huayhuash Trail in Peru. Beyond racing, he undertook the Seven Wild Trails project — FKT-style crossings on seven trails across five continents, completing efforts in Iceland, Peru, Nepal, New Zealand, Morocco, and across Réunion Island via its three highest cirques (168km, 11,000m gain). He has organised trail events since 2009, using races as platforms for coaching and mentoring. A WAA team athlete with a strong following on Instagram (@le_saux_christophe), he represents the spirit of the early generation of French ultra-trail icons who treated the sport as a vehicle for global exploration.

Notable Wins

• — Grand Raid de la Réunion winner 2005
• — Tor des Géants 3rd ex æquo 2014 (79:02)
• — Grand Raid Caroux 2004 category winner
• — 50+ career victories
• — Marathon des Sables competitor
• — Track Outback Race winner
• — Guyane'Trail winner
• — Cordillera Huayhuash Trail winner

Race History