London is only one of two World Marathon Majors taking place in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this 40th edition of the iconic race will look and sound different from any which have gone before, as only elite able-bodied and wheelchair athletes will be competing around a looped course in St James Park.

The wheelchair races are scheduled to begin at 1.10pm BST and with the able-bodied races taking place earlier in the day, the wheelchair athletes will have the course to themselves and will receive more television time than ever before.

Swiss athletes are hoping to clinch a double success with Hug and Schar the favourites in the men's and women's wheelchair races respectively.

In the men's event, defending champion Daniel Romanchuk of the United States has opted not to compete this year, and in his absence reigning Paralympic marathon champion Hug is targeting a third London Marathon crown following triumphs in 2014 and 2016.

Britain's David Weir, 41, will be lining up in the race for a 21st time and is targeting his ninth win on home territory.

In total, 12 men are set to take the wheelchair race start with fellow Swiss athlete Heinz Frei, Japanese racers Hiroki Nishida, Kota Hokinoue and Sho Watanabe, Spain's Rafael Botello Jimenez and Jordi Madera, Canadian Brent Lakatos, American James Senbeta and Britons John Boy Smith and Callum Hall completing the line-up.

Schar, a winner in London in 2017 and again last year starts the women's race as favourite having clocked up an impressive sequence of winning nine World Marathon Majors in a row - a run which ended when she chose not to compete in Tokyo in March.

Britain's Shelly Woods, competing in London for the 13th time, will be aiming to add to her victories in the race in 2007 and 2012.

A seven strong field is completed by American London Marathon debutant Jenna Fesemyer, fellow American Michelle Wheeler, Dutch racers Margriet van den Broek and Nikita den Boer and a second Swiss racer in Patricia Eachus.