London Marathon: Hug wins again to deny Weir record seventh
Marcel Hug regained the Virgin Money London Marathon men’s wheelchair title this morning to make it two victories in six days for Switzerland’s silver bullet.
After winning the Boston Marathon on Monday he produced a superb sprint finish to hold off Australian Kurt Fearnley and Briton David Weir to take his second London crown in 1:35:24.
“It’s crazy so soon after Boston, but it feels great,” said 30-year-old Hug. “It wasn’t an easy victory and there was a tough sprint. I knew I had to make sure I had a good position. I tried to get away from Fearnley and Weir, but they stayed with me. I’m really happy.”
It is a familiar sight in London to have a pack of wheelchair racers turn into The Mall together and this year was no different with eight making it a tactical race from Tower Bridge.
Hug had to contend with a tough field containing six-time winner Weir, Fearnley, who won in 2009 and 2013, and New York champion Ernst van Dyk of South Africa. They were in the leading pack alongside Japanese Hiroki Nishida and two Americans Aaron Pike and James Senbeta.
Time and again Hug tried to break from the rest, but Weir and Fearnley did not stray from his side. In the last mile, Senbeta tried to spring a surprise, coming from the back to lead the race, but it was not enough to stir the others.
“I was surprised at Senbeta but it was better for me as I had more draft,” explained Hug.
After dropping out at half way last year with a puncture, Hug produced his victorious sprint down The Mall and crossed the line a second ahead of Fearnley, with Weir third in 1:35:26.
The 36-year-old was seeking a record seventh title in his 17th appearance, but the Dad of three insists he is not giving up on his dream.
“I’m alright after racing two marathons, a bit sore,” said Weir, who was fourth in Boston. “I thought I was in a good position today. I just didn’t have anything left.
“Some of the speeds Marcel was pushing were unbelievable, another level. It’s probably one of the toughest London marathons. He’s an amazing athlete.
“I try not to think about the seventh win. I should have won it last year,” Weir continued. “If I was getting any slower, I wouldn’t be sprinting at the end with the top three in the world. “The field was so strong that everyone can claw you back. That’s the strength and depth in wheelchair racing.”
Many of the athletes will now move on to training for the Rio Paralympics.
“It’s a good marker to see what I have to do in Rio,” Weir said. “If I was way back and couldn’t sprint at the end, I would think I was too old and past it.
“But everyone is beatable in Rio. Anyone can win on certain days. Track is a different ball game and Hug’s the one to beat.”
After winning in Boston, Hug doubled his points in the new Abbott World Marathon Majors wheelchair series with today’s victory and looks on course for the US$50,000 prize.
