London Marathon 2014: David Weir loses out to Marcel Hug

Britain's six-time winner David Weir was beaten by Swiss rival Marcel Hug in a thrilling sprint finish to the London Marathon wheelchair race.

Hug, 28, who won last weekend's Paris Marathon, proved strongest, clocking one hour 32.41 seconds for his first win in London.

Weir was a second behind Hug with South African Ernst van Dyk in third.

American Tatyana McFadden set a new course record of 1:45.11 to defend her women's title.

McFadden is back wheelchair racing after winning a silver medal in the 1km cross-country skiing event at the Sochi Winter Paralympics.

She finished a minute and a half clear of Switzerland's Manuela Schar and Japan's Wakako Tsuchida with Britain's Shelly Woods sixth (1:54.52).

"I can't believe I won this one," McFadden, 24, told BBC Sport. "I was so nervous coming here after the demands of Sochi but I surprised myself. By the last five miles I was exhausted but the support from the crowd was perfect and that was what I needed."

Weir, who finished fifth in last year's race, took a break after that and missed the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon where Hug won five golds.

But the 34-year-old Briton was nicely placed throughout Sunday's race and was in a group of four who opened up a gap over the rest of the field with just over 10km remaining, along with Hug, van Dyk and Japan's Kota Hokinoue.

None of the quartet were willing to make a late breakaway but turning into the Mall for the final stages, Hug used his strength to pull clear and although Weir challenged, he was unable to bridge the gap.

"This is a really sweet victory and it feels great to finally win this race," said Hug, who was runner-up in 2010, 2012 and 2013. "It was a tight finish but I was glad to be in front. It is great to compete against David Weir and also great to beat him."

Weir himself has vowed to return next year to try and break the record of six wins he holds with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

"I felt mentally and physically in good shape coming in," he said. "I knew I was pushing well but Marcel was the better man on the day but I will fight on until I get that record."