Women’s London marathon will be ‘tougher race to win than Olympics’

Peres Jepchirchir, Brigid Kosgei, Tigst Assefa and Ruth Chepng’etich promote the race at the Horse Guards Parade. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

There are so many history-makers and record breakers in Sunday’sLondon marathon that the race director, Hugh Brasher, reckons the women’s race will be even harder to win than the Olympics.

Hyperbole? Perhaps, given that the Paris route is brutally hilly and will be staged in the raging heat of summer. But Brasher also has a point, given the extraordinary quality that will be on display.