French ultra-trail running has a new milestone to celebrate. Elite athlete Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz has officially rewritten the record books in Corsica, completing the grueling GR20 trail in a jaw-dropping time that leaves previous benchmarks far behind.
What Happened
Setting off from Calenzana in the northwest of Corsica, 33-year-old Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz took on the legendary GR20 path with extreme precision. He crossed the finish line in Conca after navigating 160 kilometers of rugged terrain paired with a brutal 12,180 meters of positive elevation gain.
His total time? Exactly 27 hours and 29 minutes.
With this performance, Dunand-Pallaz sliced more than two hours off the previous record. Just last July, fellow French ultra-runner François D'Haene became the first person to break the 30-hour barrier on the route, clocking in at 29 hours and 46 minutes.
The Brutal Reality of the GR20
To understand the scale of this achievement, one must look at the trail itself. The GR20 is widely regarded as Europe’s toughest long-distance hiking trail. Typically, experienced backpackers require 10 to 15 days to complete the traverse. The route is notoriously unforgiving, featuring exposed ridges, jagged granite peaks, loose scree, and extreme, fast-changing microclimates. Managing nutritional needs, sleep deprivation, and joint impact over such technical, non-runnable terrain requires near-flawless execution.
This historic feat was no accident. Dunand-Pallaz meticulously planned his attempt alongside a rotating crew of high-level French pacers—including Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon and Théo Détienne—who took turns helping him maintain a punishing pace across the island's rocky technical paths. True to his racing routine, he also enlisted his parents to manage logistics and nutritional supply points all along the course.
Why It Matters
The victory cements Dunand-Pallaz's status as a powerhouse in elite endurance racing. Coming off major career victories like the 2023 Diagonale des Fous and the Hardrock 100, the Annecy native continues to prove he is nearly unmatched when it comes to conquering technical, high-altitude mountain trails.
Slicing 2 hours and 17 minutes off an established record by François D'Haene—one of the greatest ultra-runners of all time—is a massive statement. It highlights a broader trend in the sport: the growing significance of Fastest Known Times (FKTs) on iconic, non-race routes, which have become just as prestigious as winning major international ultra-trail events.
What's Next / Future Outlook
With the GR20 record pushed to an astonishing 27-hour mark, Dunand-Pallaz has raised the bar to a level that may stand for years. However, this feat is bound to attract other elite global athletes eager to test their limits against his new baseline. As for Dunand-Pallaz, this milestone establishes an exceptional foundation of physical endurance as he looks ahead to future high-altitude mountain challenges on the global ultra-trail circuit.
