A London Marathon race delay scare hit the elite wheelchair event on Sunday after British racer Eden Rainbow-Cooper suffered a puncture shortly before the start.
BBC presenter Gabby Logan told viewers during live coverage that Rainbow-Cooper’s puncture “might delay the start of the race” as the wheelchair field prepared to begin.
Live updates later said Rainbow-Cooper changed to a spare wheel but could not reach the start line on time.
The Guardian’s live coverage said Rainbow-Cooper started late after the puncture, while the wider TCS London Marathon 2026 continued in ideal conditions.
Rainbow-Cooper, 24, entered the London race after recent success on the international marathon circuit and had ranked among the British contenders in the wheelchair field.
BBC coverage began in the morning, with the elite wheelchair race scheduled before the elite women, elite men and mass participation starts.
The London Marathon introduced equal prize pots across elite men, elite women and wheelchair races, with winners receiving around £44,000 before bonuses.
London Marathon Events said the 2026 race drew a world record 1.13 million ballot applications.
The event, founded in 1981, starts around Blackheath and finishes at The Mall as part of the World Marathon Majors.
