Raid 97.4 is a demanding ultra-trail on Reunion Island, connecting Le Port and Saint-Philippe over 101 km with approximately 5,500 m of elevation gain. The primary Raid begins at Stade Nelson Mandela in Le Port. The Semi-Raid starts in Cilaos and spans 57 km with 2,900 m of climbing. A two-person relay is also available, covering most of the main route and divided between Le Port to Cilaos and Cilaos to Saint-Philippe. All participants should be trained and in good physical condition, regardless of whether they possess a racing license.
The course utilizes GR trails through the Mafate and Cilaos cirques, passes close to Piton de la Fournaise, and incorporates some of the island's most challenging paths. It is conducted in a single, continuous stage, with each runner responsible for their own pacing between checkpoints and cutoffs. The main race offers 400 bibs, and the Semi-Raid has 600, indicating it is not an enormous event. A key logistical point is that race-day bib pickup is unavailable, highlighting the serious nature of this mountain race with limited scope for spontaneous adjustments.