London Marathon 2024 Betting Odds & Predictions

Regarded as a crown jewel of the World Marathon Majors, the London Marathon 2024 brings out the most talented long-distance runners from around the world. This year’s London Marathon features an impressive entry of elite men’s and women’s racers.

This year’s event is expected to have a somber mood in the wake of last year’s winner Kelvin Kiptum’s sudden death. However, a talented field of racers will step up to the starting line in his honor on Sunday, April 21.

With the London Marathon scheduled only six days following the Boston Marathon, it’s the best time of the year for long-distance running fans. In this article, I am breaking down everything there is to know, including how to bet on the London Marathon at the top online sportsbooks.

Before we begin, let me show you where to bet on the event. If you’re in the United States, you can find odds for the London Marathon at Bovada.

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If you’re in another region like Europe or Canada, Bet365 is the best place for London Marathon betting in 2024.

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London Marathon 2024 Betting Odds

Bet365 and Bovada didn’t disappoint: we have London Marathon odds for both the men’s and women’s events! Let’s check them out.

Men’s London Marathon Betting Odds 2024

I’ve only included the most likely favorites, but you can bet on many others. The same applies to the women’s race, so let’s check the odds for this one next.

Women’s London Marathon Betting Odds for 2024

Tigst Assefa is the most likely winner, according to the bookies. The odds for her are lower than 2.00, so I’m not sure that’s a good bet. Backing any of the other top contenders makes more sense, considering the current prices.

London Marathon 2024 Course

The London Marathon course covers 26.2 miles and 246 feet of elevation gain. The route takes runners through some of Europe’s most recognizable streets and landmarks.

Where Is The London Marathon?

The London Marathon course starts in Greenwich Park and ends in St. James’s Park near Buckingham Palace. Click below to check out more about the London Marathon 2024 route:

Starting Line To 10 Miles

The exact starting line will depend on each runner’s bib number, which consists of blue, green, and red. Runners will navigate through Charlton, with the runners from all three starting lines merging at Mile 3 on the Old Dover Road.

Participants will enter Woolwich and run past the Woolwich Dockyard toward Westcombe Park. Then, they will enter Greenwich at Mile 4 and continue their upward ascent to Cutty Sark. Deptford (Mile 7) and Surrey Quay (Mile 9) lead runners back to the River Thames through Rotherhithe.

11 Miles To Finish Line

From Mile 11 to Mile 12, the field will run through Bermondsey and then across Tower Bridge into Wapping. The Tower Bridge represents the halfway mark of the London Marathon 2024.

London Marathon runners will arrive in Westferry at Mile 14 after a short stop in Shadwell. They’ll jog along the River Thames towards Crossharbour and then Mudchute. The 17th to 20th Mile features more visuals for runners, with the skyline of Canary Wharf coming into view.

The course takes racers through South Quay, Heron Quay, and toward Limehouse. Runners will pass back through Wapping with their eyes set on Mile 24.

The world-famous London Eye observation wheel can be observed when participants arrive at the Victoria Embankment after a stretch on Lower Thames Street. With runners in the home stretch, they’ll sprint through Westminster to the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace!

London Marathon 2024 Predictions

Two runners from the men’s and women’s fields stand out as top London Marathon contenders from the elite fields.

Let’s check out the London Marathon 2024 favorites and my thoughts on who will have the upper hand at the finish line in St. James’s Park:

Professional Men’s Field Favorites

Unfortunately, the defending London Marathon winner and world record holder will not have an opportunity to defend his title.

Kiptum tragically passed away in an automobile accident in February before he had a chance to reach his full potential. In Kiptum’s absence, the men’s London Marathon 2024 winner likely comes down to Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele and Tamirat Tola.

Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia)

As one of my top picks to win the London Marathon 2024, 32-year-old Tola will look to stay hot after dominating the New York Marathon in November.

The Ethiopian ran a blistering-fast record-breaking time of 2:04:58 — snapping Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 record by eight seconds¹!

At the London Marathon 2023, only Geoffrey Kamworor and Kiptum finished ahead of Tola. He was within 36 seconds of the second place finisher².

It was a fine effort from Tola, but he had more to offer. After coming short, Tola was in the best form of his career in New York. If Tola brings the same effort, he will be in contention at Mile 26.

Tola’s coming off a disappointing showing in February in the RAK Half Marathon. He finished 7th in a race he was projected to be a top contender in³.

Nonetheless, Tola has a strong chance of bouncing back in a race where he has a good history of running well.

Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)

The legendary and accomplished marathon runner returns to the London Marathon a year after dropping out due to a calf injury. The 41-year-old’s resume is one of the most impressive in the men’s field.

In addition to being a five-time world champion, Bekele has gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter Olympic races. He’s been an Olympic champion three times and aspires to compete in another Olympic Games before retiring.

According to Bekele, he hasn’t reached the top of his career in marathon running. Beleke says that he has more to offer after overcoming recent injuries⁴.

Bekele’s comments came two months before Bekele broke the masters world record of 2:04:19 in the Valencia Marathon⁵. Bekele admitted that he liked running on the flat course in Spain.

The London Marathon is regarded as a fairly flat course, so this should be in his wheelhouse. It’s certainly much flatter than the demanding Boston Marathon, which features several elevation changes.

Opting for London, instead of Boston, was a wise strategic move by Bekele, who should excel in these conditions against a beatable field.

Professional Women’s Field Favorites

The elite women’s field is shaping up to be a barn burner in the London Marathon 2024. With 10 women entering with personal bests of faster than 2:17:30, a world record could be broken in London on April 21.

For your London Marathon betting picks, consider wagering on these two women in 2024:

Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia)

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa is out to make history again, after breaking the world record in women’s marathon running last year. The 27-year-old remains the only woman in the world to complete a marathon in under 2:13:00.

At the Berlin Marathon 2023, Assefa dazzled on the streets of Berlin to smash the world record with an incredible time of 2:11:53. Assefa’s world record time was a whole two minutes better than the old world record⁶!

It was a magnificent performance from Assefa, who is the clear woman to beat in the women’s field of this race. Assefa has two major marathon titles, with both wins coming at the Berlin Marathon.

She has never raced in a Boston, New York, or London Marathon before. In her debut in London, Assefa promises to put on a show for those in attendance. I strongly recommend considering Assefa as your top pick to win the London Marathon 2024.

Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)

Brigid Kosgei is the first non-Ethiopian on my list of London Marathon 2024 picks. The Ethiopians are expected to thoroughly dominate, but I am looking forward to the duel between Assefa and Kosgei.

Before Assefa shattered the world record in Berlin, Kosgei had the fastest marathon time in the world. At 2:14:08, Kosgei’s personal best still stands as the second-fastest time in marathon history.

So, the 44th edition of the London Marathon will put the fastest and second-fastest women in the world on the same course. Kosgei recorded her personal best at the Chicago Marathon in 2019.

Despite Assefa breaking her record, the 30-year-old Kenyan is in fantastic form heading into this race and has won here in the past. In 2020, Kosgei captured the London Marathon title with a time of 2:18:58, a year after she won with a time of 2:18:20.

More recently, in December 2023, Kosgei cruised to win in the Abu Dhabi Marathon. Additionally, Kosgei is coming off a win in the Lisbon Half Marathon on March 17⁷.

Although this field will be a much tougher test for her, Kosgei has to be considered a threat to go back to the top of the podium in London.

London Marathon Betting Tips

Before betting on the London Marathon 2024, I recommend checking out our helpful London Marathon betting tips. These tips can come in handy when you are doing your research for the London Marathon 2024 and future marathons:

London Marathon By The Numbers

There are some London Marathon facts that might be interesting and useful to know before watching the highly anticipated race on April 21. Let’s delve into the London Marathon by the numbers:

• Roughly 50,000 runners are eligible to run in the London Marathon 2024.
• Kelvin Kiptum owns the men’s course record with a time of 2:01:25 (2023).
• Paula Radcliffe owns the women’s course record with a time of 2:15:25 (2003).
• Eliud Kipchoge’s four London Marathon wins are the most in the men’s race.
• Ingrid Kristiansen’s four London Marathon wins in the 1980s remain the gold standard in the women’s race.
• Kenyans and Ethiopians have won the men’s London Marathon race in 20 straight events.
• Kenyans and Ethiopians have combined to win 13 consecutive women’s London Marathons.
• In 2022, the average time to complete the London Marathon route was 4:57:26 for women and 4:21:09 for men⁸.

Is It Hard To Get Into The London Marathon?

The odds are against athletes who want to participate in the London Marathon. However, there are several ways to qualify. A few of the most common ways are:

• Achieving qualifying times at accredited competitions.
• Being part of a running club and nominated by the group.
• Fundraising for a charity.
• Getting a London Marathon ballot.
• Being connected to a London Marathon sponsor.

Past Men’s London Marathon Winners

Past Women’s London Marathon Winners

Where To Find London Marathon Betting Odds?

US readers who want to bet on the London Marathon should visit Bovada, as the bookmaker has released odds for the competition.

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Some European-based online sportsbooks also offer London Marathon odds in 2024, including Bet365, one of my favorites.

As one of the most well-respected worldwide online bookmakers, Bet365 is a safe site to place your London Marathon bets.

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