His time was two hours, six minutes and eight seconds, but warm conditions ended any hopes of him breaking the record he set in last year’s race.

“I expected more from my opponents, but I made sure I ran my best,” said the 36-year-old Ethiopian.

“The last kilometres were really hard, it was too hot for a new world record.”

He added: “I was tired, I pushed too much.”

Last year, Gebrselassie became the first man to run under two hours, four minutes when he finished in 2:03:59 and slashed 27 seconds off his previous mark.

Kenya’s Francis Kiprop came second in a time of 2:07:04 with Gebrselassie’s compatriot Negari Terfa third in a time of 2:07:41.

The women’s race was another triumph for Ethiopia, with Atsede Habtamu Besuye winning in a time of 2:24:47.

Russia’s Silvia Skvortsova was second in 2:26:24, with another Ethiopian, Mamitu Daska, third in a time of 2:26:38. – BBC