London race 'toughest' for Kipchoge

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has described Sunday's London Marathon as the "most difficult race" he has ever competed in.

Kipchoge, who won the race in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 17 seconds, said he has never competed in a race where the temperature soared to as high as 24 degree centigrade like in London.

"The race was tough and the weather made it worse. I have never competed in such conditions but I am happy to have won in a good time," said the 33-year-old Kipchoge, who has won 10 of the 11 marathons he has in participated.

"I'm now taking a short break to recover after the hard work before I start my build-up for another race in the next season which starts in September," added Kipchoge, whose victory, the third in London, propelled him to his third consecutive World Marathon Majors victory.

That feat saw him share the Sh US1 million (Sh100m) jackpot with compatriot Mary Keitany, who did enough to reclaim the women’s series after settling fifth in a race won by compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot.

The 2019 World Championships are set for Doha, Qatar.

Kipchoge expressed his delight after winning his third London Marathon in addition to the WMM having accumulated 50 points. Kipchoge collected 25 points for winning in Berlin last year before posting similar points in London.

"I have won in London before but I don’t take it for granted. I still have a long way to go in terms of athletics," said the Kipchoge.

However, Kipchoge remains guarded in which race he will compete in next saying it’s something that he will have to discuss with his coach Patrick Sang.

It’s left to be known whether Kipchoge will make a return to the World Championships where he has won two medals in 5,000m; gold in 2003 Paris and silver in 2007 Osaka.

Kipchoge, who won silver at 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze at 2004 Athens Olympics in 5,000m, skipped the 2017 London World Championships despite being named in the marathon team.

Another Kenyan Geoffrey Kirui, who is the World marathon champion, is placed second in the WMM with 41 points followed by Japan's Yuki Kawauchi who has 25 points.

Keitany claimed women’s WMM win on 41 points after her win in London Marathon last year and second place in New York Marathon.

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba was second with 41 points, same as Keitany, but the Kenyan's win over the Ethiopian in London in 2017 means she wins on a head-to-head comparison. Kenya's Brigid Kosgei was third with 32 points, after finishing second in Chicago last year and second in last weekend in London.