London Marathon 2020: David Weir misses out on ninth wheelchair title

Great Britain's David Weir was denied a ninth London Marathon wheelchair title as Canada's Brent Lakatos emerged victorious in a sprint finish.

Lakatos, 40, had enough in reserve to hold off Weir and win in one hour 36 minutes and four seconds.

Weir, 41, finished second ahead of Swiss rival Marcel Hug.

Manuela Schar suffered a shock defeat in the women's race as the Netherlands' Nikita den Boer ended her run of nine successive major marathon wins.

Den Boer, who finished eighth on her London Marathon debut last year, pulled away with two laps to go as her Swiss rival faded badly.

The Dutch racer sliced more than 10 minutes off her lifetime best in challenging conditions, clocking one hour, 40 minutes and seven seconds.

Britain's Shelly Woods, a two-time champion who was racing at London for the first time in four years since the birth of her son, did not finish.

Both races took place in cold and wet conditions on a specially designed looped circuit, and without any spectators because of coronavirus restrictions.

Weir, who finished two seconds behind Lakatos, told BBC Sport: "It was very tough conditions. "I knew it would be a sprinter's race. I knew Brent would be the strongest over the sprints.

"I gave it my best. I haven't beaten Marcel Hug for two years so that is something.

"Mentally I thought I would find it tough. I was dreading it because I don't like going round in circles. But it was alright. It was different."

Compatriot John Boy Smith's hopes went when he suffered a puncture to one of his tyres.