Cocodona 250 Vs. Tor de Géants

This last post about Francois going back to UTMB brings me to an interesting comparison I heard people trying to make over the last few days.

Which event is more/bigger/popular/important (pick your qualifier): Cocodona 250 or Tor de Géants. Both races are “really long”, both are hard, both are noteworthy. For folks (Americans, let’s be real) who’ve been glued to YouTube these past few days and are now declaring Cocodona to to be the biggest “BIG” trail race “in the world” I ask you this question: Of all the winners/podium finishers at Cocodona has there been one that if he or she would announce they are running UTMB would be instantly in contention for the podium? Or, has any UTMB winner already won Cocodona? François won TOR in 2024, won UTMB four times, and with his announcement to run UTMB this summer is in instant contention for the podium.

Germany Katharina Hartmuth won the women’s race at TOR last year and set a huge course record, came in 3rd at Hardrock that same year and will be going back to Hardrock this July. If she’d announce her return to UTMB she also would be considered an immediate contender for the podium.

Beyond the elite field attraction it’s also worth noting that TOR in 2024 had 554 finishers!, not counting the DNFs. Cocodona 250 had just ~300 starters! this year.

Not dissing on Cocodona here, but let’s be real, this is no comparison.

I posted this article above just before heading out on my run and I had one more thought I wanted to add:

When it comes to media attention Cocodona wins compared to TOR, hands down. Cocodona in many ways feels like a race truly created with the online spectators in mind. And of course this is no surprised given that Jamil Coury is the mastermind behind this event. Just like the Barkely Marathons, which also attracts an outsized fandom compared to the runners actually participating in it, Cocodona too has an outsized media attention, considering its still very young history. Is it the biggest? Well considering its history it certainly is impressive, but I suppose Cocodona would have to measure itself against UTMB and Western States in that regard and that takes us to an entirely different conversation.