In cold, wet conditions, 24-year-old Kitata edged clear in the final metres to win by one second over Kipchumba in a relatively slow two hours, 05.41 minutes.
Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia was third in 2:5.35, with Kipchoge, who in his last race a year ago became the only man to break the two hour mark for the distance, eighth in 2:06.49 having suffered cramp and a blocked ear.
AMAZING three-way sprint finish at #LondonMarathon with Shura Kitata beating Vincent Kipchumba and Sisay Lemma. Wow. #Londonmarathon2020 pic.twitter.com/RnsQb3QO7X
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) October 4, 2020
In the absence of injured Kenenisa Bekele, Kipchoge was widely expected to lift a fifth London crown but was never able to impose his usual speed in the relentless cold rain.
With just over three miles to go, the 35-year-old broke, dropping back from a pack of six.
As the pace eventually picked up it was down to three, shoulder to shoulder, as they entered The Mall in a finish more like an 800m race than a marathon.
The tall Kipchumba looked as if he would do it as he edged ahead, but Kitata fought back magnificently to take the tape.
Kitata, who finished second in London in 2018, thanked his missing compatriot for his victory. “Kenenisa Bekele was helping me for this race and he advised me how to run,” he said. “I trained for the same course, I am very happy to win.”
Kipchoge had won 12 of his 13 previous marathons – the blip being a second place behind a then-world record in his second outing over the distance in Berlin in 2013.
“I’m really disappointed, I had a problem with my right ear after it blocked, and then I really cramped and had problems with my hip from about the last 15 km,” he said.
“It’s really cold but I don’t blame the conditions and I’m still there to come back again.”
Kosgei cruises to win
Earlier, Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei was a comfortable winner of the women’s race in 2:18.58 as American Sara Hall produced a great finish to snatch second from Ruth Chepngetich.
Brigid Kosgei speaks after winning the 2020 London Marathon.#LondonMarathon #LetsGoKenya pic.twitter.com/n2dzxdn83A
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) October 4, 2020
The races, originally postponed from April because of the COVID-19 pandemic, were run over almost 20 laps of a fenced-off course in a “controlled secure biosphere” around St James’s Park.
Although there was no mass field this year, around 40,000 people are running the distance at venues of their choice through the day.
They will receive official finisher’s medals and raise millions of pounds for charities hard hit by the cancellation of the April race.
(with Reuters)
