The 14th edition of the Dodo Trail, organised by IBL, took place on Saturday, 11 July, bringing together more than 3,000 runners across challenging routes through the iconic landscapes of Le Morne, Black River and Tamarin. With 27 nationalities represented and a record 371 international participants, the 2026 edition further strengthens the Dodo Trail’s position as one of the leading sporting events in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region. Beyond the competition, the event continues to bring together trail-running enthusiasts from Mauritius, Réunion Island, Madagascar, Southern Africa and beyond. 

Throughout the day, the different races welcomed runners of all levels, from passionate amateurs to experienced trail athletes. The atmosphere was both competitive and friendly, fuelled by the energy of the crowd. The races began in the early hours of the morning, with strong performances across the technical courses of the Xtreme 50 km, Squad 50 km, Trooper 25 km, Venture 10 km and Rookie 5 km. 

The 14th edition began a week earlier, on Saturday, 4 July, with Le Morne Dash. This year’s revised format saw runners start and finish at the foot of Le Morne Brabant, taking on a short but demanding challenge in one of Mauritius’ most iconic locations. 

The growing interest in the Dodo Trail among runners from across the region was once again clear this year. Around 100 participants travelled from Réunion Island, including several well-known names in the island’s trail-running community, such as Sylvaine Cussot, Julie Avril, Jennifer Sauvage, Loïc Boyer and Frédéric Duchemann. They were joined by runners from Madagascar, South Africa, France and several other countries, reinforcing the event’s role as a meeting point for the regional trail community and a sporting link between Mauritius, the Indian Ocean and beyond. 

For Claire Coulier, Head of Communications at IBL, the spirit of the event goes far beyond the race itself: “The Dodo Trail is first and foremost a shared experience. It is about challenging yourself, supporting others and being part of a strong community. This year once again, runners from Mauritius, Réunion Island, Madagascar and other countries came together on the trails of Mauritius. This is what the Dodo Trail aims to achieve – bring people together across borders, build stronger links within the Indian Ocean region and showcase the natural beauty of Mauritius.” 

Simon Bulloz, winner of the Xtreme 50 km, the Dodo Trail’s flagship race, reflected on the highlights of his performance: “My partner and I had planned a holiday around the Dodo Trail, but I did not come here expecting to win. The course is very demanding, especially in the higher sections, where conditions are very wet. I am happy that I managed my race well from start to finish and, of course, very pleased to leave with the win.” 

The 2026 edition was made possible with the support of Crystal, Eagle Insurance, Starbalm, DTOS, Veranda Tamarin, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Arcadia Travel, Mauritius Telecom and Sweet C, together with the event’s technical and institutional partners.