London Marathon 2016: Route, Course Map, Times, Road Closures and Event Details

The 36th running of the London Marathon takes place on Sunday with thousands of amateur runners set to join the elite group around the 26.2-mile circuit in England's capital.

As ever, the support will be immense across the city as runners take to the streets, passing famed spots like Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and Big Ben, before finally finishing on the Mall.

Along with the runners who are taking on the challenge for a huge range of charities and their own enjoyment, the London Marathon is a major event for elite athletes.

Read on for a look at those competitors who will be aiming to win the men's and women's races, along with all the key information needed for the day.

Start Time (BST)	Event
8:55 a.m.	Virgin Money London Marathon elite wheelchair race
9:00 a.m.	IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup (ambulant athletes)
9:15 a.m.	Virgin Money London Marathon for Elite Women
10 a.m.	Elite Men and the British Athletics and England Athletics Championships for Men and Women
10 a.m.	Virgin Money London Marathon Mass Start

Click here for a full list of road closures during the event, and here for the full route and course map, courtesy of the official website.

Below is a time-lapse video from event sponsors Virgin Money that shows the entire course:

Kipchoge, Kipsang Renew London Rivalry

Last year's elite men's race at the London Marathon finished in thrilling fashion.

Kenyan duo Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipsang were neck and neck with just 600 metres of the race to go before the former kicked on to win by five seconds.

See the finish below:

It could well be tight again come the finishing miles in 2016, as Kipchoge is back to defend his title while two-time former winner Kipsang also returns.

As if that were not enough, marathon world record holder Dennis Kimetto, also from Kenya, will line up at the start on Sunday.

Ethiopia's legendary Kenenisa Bekele—a triple Olympic gold medallist on the track—will also be involved in London, although he is considered something of an underdog, per Race Results Weekly's David Monti:

Kipchoge has a tough task on his hands if he is to successfully defend his London title, but he is confident it will be a "wonderful" event, per the official website: 

"

It was fantastic to win the Virgin Money London Marathon last year against one of the greatest fields ever assembled in marathon running.

This year I will come back to London to compete again with the world’s best athletes. I will work hard to defend my title in London and, together with Wilson, Dennis and others, make it a fast and wonderful race.

"

With places at the summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games up for grabs at Sunday's race in London, there is greater incentive than usual for the elite athletes to put in fine performances.

Indeed, Kimetto said his showing in London will determine his plans for the summer, whether he goes to Rio or attempts to break his own world record, per Jessica Whittington of Athletics Weekly: "First of all I need to finish London and then we will see. My focus is to finish in London with a good time and a good position. If they select me to go to Rio, I am ready to go.

"If they don’t select me, I am going to Berlin. Maybe I will try in September to get the world record."

Steve Bardens/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the women's race at the 2016 London Marathon is set to be similarly competitive and sees the return of Ethiopian defending champion Tigist Tufa.

Tufa's triumph last year was something of a shock as she beat two-time former London winner Mary Keitany into second.

Kenya's Keitany, 34, returns again this year and will attempt to add a third victory to her 2011 and 2012 wins in England's capital.

Per the London Marathon's official Twitter feed, she is confident of putting in a good time this year:

The London event is one of the biggest and best marathons on the circuit, and the quality on show in the elite races is indicative of just how prestigious it is. 

The atmosphere should be electric across the city on Sunday, and the spectators will likely be treated to some high-quality racing before the crowds of amateur runners come through to the finish.