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Men’s wheelchair race report: George denies Weir his seventh title

American Joshua George denied Britain’s favourite wheelchair athlete David Weir his seventh title in the Virgin Money London Wheelchair Marathon today. George clocked 1:31:31 to take gold in the T53/54 race in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships, a second ahead of six-times Paralympic champion Weir.

“I was told earlier that I’m the most hated man in London right now,” George joked afterwards.

“Dave is a great guy and I’ve been racing him my entire career and I think this is the first time I’ve beaten him so I’m allowed to get one every now and again.”

Lining up at the start for the men’s race were the best in the world, including current world champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland and 2010 winner Josh Cassidy from Canada.

Conditions would make it tricky for the wheelchair athletes. At 35, today’s race was Weir’s sixteenth London, and this week he said he felt stronger than ever and still hungry to claim the record breaking seven wins.

The Surrey-based athlete and six-times winner of the London Marathon, Weir is an experienced athlete so will always be among the favourites in such conditions.

It meant the technical aspects of racing would be tested as Weir would find out later in the competition, when he his left glove lost its grip.

It became clear at the halfway mark that last year’s winner Marcel Hug was not able to challenge Weir. He dropped out at Tower Bridge with a puncture.

“The Bridge tends to separate a lot of guys but after that we had a pack of racers together for the rest of the course,” George continued. “So you get to those last few miles and everyone’s queuing up for that final sprint. I entered the final sprint in third and had a great position – I was able to swing out wide and get a nice line for the final kick.”

The leading pack was reduced to seven men: George, Weir, Poland’s Hamerlak, French Pierre Fairbank, South African Ernst Van Dyk and the two Japanese athletes Hokinoue and Soejima.

In 2008, George, 31, in his first ever London Marathon, was involved in the infamous crash with Van Dyk, where they ploughed into the hoardings. His highest finish was in the same year, when he was seventh.

With 600m to go, the sprint finish that crowds have become accustomed to in the men’s wheelchair race looked likely again. Last year, Weir was famously taken at the Finish Line when Hug recorded his first London victory. Weir is always a strong contender in sprint finishes and without Hug, the seventh title was in his sights.

When they past Buckingham Palace and round the corner into The Mall, the sprint finish was in no doubt. Weir moved over to the side and pushed to the finish. However, George matched his speed in a dramatic conclusion to the race, which saw Weir beaten into the runner-up spot. George’s tactics proved successful and he crossed the line one second ahead to become the new world champion.

“I think it’s my sixth World Championship medal, but to be able to add to that collection feels great, but to win London is just amazing,” George said.

“It has always been one of my goals to win London as it’s one of the best marathons in the world, one of the best cities in the world to race in, so to be able to finish first is just amazing.”

It meant a memorable day for American racers as George’s teammates Tatyana McFadden and Raymond Martin took their respective golds too.

George was quick to acknowledge his American team-mate and fellow University of Illinois student Tatyana McFadden, who claimed her third consecutive London crown today.

“She’s an amazing racer. I’ve known her most of her life, so I always feel really good when she wins. I’m doubly happy that we get to celebrate together today.”

British favourite Weir was upset not to have achieved his dream seven wins. With 11 miles to go, his glove was not gripping correctly, meaning he had to depend on his right arm to do most of the work.

“I was just hoping in the sprint that I could manage it without the contact on the left side. To win a race like that you’ve got to have both arms working well and hitting the push rim at the right time.”

“It will come. I don’t know how many more years I can keep doing it, but it will come.”

Bronze and third place went to Japan’s Masazumi Soejima. At 45, the veteran racer recorded a time of 1:31:33 to finish five seconds ahead of Van Dyk.

To find out all the results in the London Marathon, visit the website.