World record holder Wilson Kipsang raises his arms skywards and smiles broadly as he bursts through the tape in a course record time of 2:04.27.

Image source, AP

Big Ben chimes to inform us all that we're now at high noon but there will be no final mile shootout because Wilson Kipsang has already seen off his rivals and it's now a race between the Kenyan and the clock.

Tom Fordyce
BBC Sport's chief sports writer in London

"Mo Farah now finding out just how unforgiving the marathon can be. These are hard yards now for the double world and Olympic champion - can he hang on to beat Steve Jones's British record?"

Zoom! Swoosh! That's the sound of Wilson Kipsang increasing the pace and putting some distance between himself and his compatriot Stanley Biwott. The world record holder on course for victory and is set to break the world record.

Mo Farah has overtaken Geoffrey Mutai and all hope is not lost for the British record.

The lactic acid must surely be building up in the muscles as the leading elite men enter their 25th mile. It's a race between Wilson Kipsang and Stanley Biwott and one of them looks set to break the course record.

Brendan Foster
BBC Sport athletics commentator

"Mo Farah's decision about his marathon future will be made over these final few miles, and at the moment it looks a pretty easy decision because the race has happened without him featuring. We need to preserve him because he is brilliant on the track. It must be five years since he ran a race when he wasn't in control of it."

Stanley Biwott, , externalthe 27-year-old Kenyan, is still matching world record holder Wilson Kipsang stride for stride at the front. Mo Farah is running on his own, but he should not be feeling lonely because there are hordes of spectators roadside waving pieces of foam and cheering his every footstep.

Steve Cram
BBC athletics commentator

"Mo is slowing down and will have to work hard to break the British record but he is getting so much support from the crowds along the route."

There's been a development at the front of the men's elite race where favourite Wilson Kipsang and Stanley Biwott, the 2012 Paris Marathon champion and 20-1 with the bookies' ahead of this race, have waved cheerio to their rivals and set off on their own.

Brendan Foster
BBC Sport athletics commentator

"This race is a new departure for Mo Farah. When he competes on the track he can control races but this race is a new step and he can't control it."

Paula Radcliffe
Women's marathon world record holder on BBC TV

"You can see Mo is starting to slow but he shouldn't panic. He needs to look back at the runs he has been doing in training and focus on that."

Our focus will now be on Mo Farah and the men's elite. The Briton, grimacing, is in ninth place and trails by 1:04 after 30km (18.6miles). The crowd are doing their best to add an extra bounce to the double Olympic champion's step but, you feel, the British record is all he to aim for.

Image source, PA

After finishing second in the last two years, Kenya's Edna Kiplagat finally manages to win the London Marathon at the fourth attempt.

Paula Radcliffe
Women's marathon world record holder on BBC TV

"The key question for me is whether Tirunesh Dibaba liked and enjoyed that marathon debut race. She certainly has the talent for it. Edna Kiplagat has run here before and knowing those final bends can be a big advantage."

Edna Kiplagat increases her stride and eases into the lead at the final bend. Florence Kiplagat hasn't enough juice in the tank to respond and the distance between the pair simply increases and increases until Edna Kiplagat bursts through the tape in 2:20.19.

Image source, AFP

Second for Florence Kiplagat in 2:20.22 while it's a respectable debut performance for Tirunesh Dibaba, who finishes third in 2:20.33.

Less than 600m remaining in the women's race and Tirunesh Dibaba is closing in on leaders Florence and Edna Kiplagat but the Ethiopian is still 10 seconds behind... To The Mall we go... still no separating them...

Brendan Foster
BBC Sport athletics commentator

"They might be from the same country but there will be no love lost between Edna Kiplagat and Florence Kiplagat because winning the London Marathon is a big prize."

Edna and Florence Kiplagat approach Big Ben side by side and we could be set for a thrilling spring finish. Neither yet ready to make a move. Deep breaths, hold on, we're set for a rip-roaring finale.

Steve Cram
BBC athletics commentator

"I think Mo is now working very hard and is getting to the point of the race where he finds out where it is all about and what all of his training for the past few months has been working towards."

A convincing victory for El Amin Chentouf in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup race. There isn't a rival in sight as the Moroccan, defending champion, approaches The Mall and, then, tiredly runs through the tape.

Image source, Getty Images