The organisers hoped that when Radcliffe withdrew five weeks ago because of injury, it would mean a closer contest, with up to six women in contention until the final mile. However, for Gete Wami, the Ethiopian now installed as favourite, Radcliffe's absence means a less exciting race.

	Ready to run: Gete Wami will miss the rivalry of Britain's Paula Radcliffe in the London Marathon

Wami, 33, who was second last year to China's Zhou Chunxiu, said: "As all the world knows, as soon as a race begins, Paula begins to push the pace. I hoped she would be here. The fact that she isn't makes the race less exciting and possibly less challenging.

"We always have exciting races and it would have been much better with her competing."

There is no one better qualified to assess Radcliffe's impact on a marathon than the mother of a four-year-old daughter who, with her husband and coach Getaneh, lives in a six-bedroom house in Addis Ababa.