Cairess rules himself out of London Marathon but Ethiopian great Bekele adds more star quality

The 2025 TCS London Marathon line-up, surely the greatest ever on both the men’s and women’s elite side, has had two significant changes in the former.

On Monday afternoon it was announced that top-ranked Briton Emile Cairess has been ruled out due to an ankle tendon issue.

But the field had been boosted last week with the news that Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele will be running.

Ankle tendon problem for Cairess

Cairess was potentially setting his sights on Sir Mo Farah’s British record of 2:05:11.

The Leeds athlete made his bow over 26.2 miles at London in 2023 when he came sixth in 2:08:07, the fastest British debutant of all time.

And he bettered that 12 months later when he came third at last year’s London Marathon in a time of 2:06:46, making him the second-quickest British marathon runner behind Farah.

He was also a superb fourth at the Paris Olympics last summer.

He told the TCS London Marathon’s official website: “I was really looking forward to racing the world’s best marathon runners at this year’s TCS London Marathon and to build on the progress I have made over the marathon distance. It is an absolutely stacked elite men’s field at this year’s event which makes it a really hard one to miss.

“But, unfortunately, a setback in my build-up has persisted which has significantly impacted the consistency of training that is required to be at my best. My focus now is recovering properly, getting back to full training, and returning to racing as soon as possible.”

There will still be significant British interest in the men’s race though as reigning Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee, who was closely matched with Cairess over shorter distances when they were younger, makes his marathon debut. And Mahamed Mahamed and Phil Sesemann, who both raced alongside Cairess in Paris, also line up.

Bekele back for more

And the race was boosted a few days before when Bekele revealed he was racing and will resume his rivalry with four-time winner Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya.

The 42-year-old Bekele produced a staggering performance last year when runner-up to Alex Mutiso (KEN) when he set an over-40s world record of 2:04:15.

Mutiso is back to defend his title and also in the men’s line up are Olympic champion Tamirat Tola (ETH), the fifth-fastest man in history, Sabastian Sawe (KEN), and Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), who recently clocked that incredible new world record at the Barcelona Half Marathon.

Kiplimo will be making his full-distance debut but it’s that Bekele / Kipchoge rivalry which will also attract huge attention.

Bekele got the better of most of their track duels but at the marathon distance it’s Kipchoge who holds sway, not surprising given two Olympic golds and 11 Abbott World Marathon Major wins.

Speaking to the TCS London Marathon’s media team, Bekele said: “It is an honour to be returning to the TCS London Marathon and to be part of such an incredible line-up.

“The London Marathon is a special event which brings together the best marathon runners in the world and I just love being part of it.

“Of course, it will be special to once again run against Eliud, we have enjoyed some fantastic moments racing one another over the past 22 years and I’m looking forward to that continuing at the TCS London Marathon.”