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World record holder Eliud Kipchoge was defeated in the London Marathon when Shura Kitata won a thrilling final sprint to claim an unexpected victory.
Kipchoge, a four-time winner, was the favorite, but fell behind two laps from the end and finished eighth.
Ethiopian Kitata overtook Kenyan Vincent Kipchumba on the home straight to finish in two hours, five minutes and 41 seconds.
Brigid Kosgei, who holds the women’s world record, defended her title.
“I am really disappointed,” Kipchoge said. “I do not know what happened.
“The last 15 km, I felt like my right ear was blocked. I had cramps in my hip and leg.
“It just happened in the race. I started well. It’s very cold, but I don’t blame the conditions.”
It was supposed to be an easy win for defending champion Kipchoge, with Kenenisa Bekele coming out injured on Friday.
But the 35-year-old Kenyan, who set a world record of 2: 01.39 in 2018, never took the opportunity to walk away from a group of eight leaders on a slow start.
Kitata picked up the pace with 15 minutes to go and Kipchoge looked increasingly uncomfortable as he fell backward.
Others fell as well, and eventually Kitata rounded the last corner onto the home straight with compatriot Sisay Lemma and Kipchumba.
The 24-year-old managed to get ahead and finish a second before Kipchumba, with Lemma three seconds behind.
“I prepared very well for this race,” Kitata said. “Kenenisa Bekele helped me. I’m very happy to win the race.”
Kosgei, 26, edged out world champion Ruth Chepngetich after mile 18 and finished in 2: 18.58, three minutes and three seconds ahead of American Sara Hall.
He was nearly five minutes off his world record set in Chicago last year.
“The weather was not good so we had problems,” Kosgei, who won $ 30,000 (£ 23,200) in prize money with his victory, told BBC Sport. “I fought until the moment I finished.
“We have not prepared well due to the pandemic. I will be prepared to do well next year.”
The London Marathon, rescheduled from its traditional April date due to the coronavirus pandemic, is held for elite runners for just 19 laps around St James’s Park.
The wheelchair races take place later on Sunday.
More to follow.
