BOAT RACE organisers are optimistic that the new Thames Tideway Tunnel will help lower the chances of another environmental controversy sullying the event again this year.

The 2024 edition was marred by the discovery of alarming levels of E coli bacteria along the course, resulting in a range of safety measures and a member of the losing Oxford boat revealing he had been ill before the race, famously bemoaning the “poo in the water.”

Battersea Power Station, the Boat Race Company, Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club have backed London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s London Rivers Pledge, which among its goals aims to make the capital’s rivers swimmable by 2034.

“You can’t get much closer to the river than by rowing on it,” said Boat Race chair Siobhan Cassidy.

“And for that, and for many millions of other reasons, those signing the pledge will be supporting the mayor, so that all of London’s rivers are cleaned up systematically over the next 10 years.”

The 25km “super-sewer” Thames Tideway Tunnel became fully connected in February and is designed to reduce sewage discharges by 95 per cent.

All four crews are full of fresh faces this year. Oxford will be looking to deny Cambridge a third straight victory in the men’s race and claim their first women’s title since 2016.

James Doran is the sole returning crew member for Oxford’s men, while Sarah Marshall, Tessa Haining and Annie Anezakis will all be looking for redemption after finishing runners-up in the dark blue boat last year.

A number of Olympians are included in this year’s Oxford crews including six-seat Tom Mackintosh, who won gold with New Zealand’s eights at the Tokyo 2020 Games and made the single sculls final last summer in Paris.

Seven-seat Nick Rusher — the son of a pair of Olympic rowers — won bronze with the United States men’s eight in Paris.

Heidi Long, who collected bronze in the women’s eight with Team GB in France last summer, is the Oxford women’s stroke.

Noam Mouelle and Luca Ferraro return for Cambridge in the men’s race, while Gemma King and Carys Earl will look to defend their women’s title.

This year’s competition has been rocked by an eligibility controversy, with PGCE students prevented from competing, while a separate rule looks to have rendered British Olympic champion Tom Ford unable to represent Cambridge.

Cassidy added: “As many of you will know, we have had some coverage this year about the eligibility criteria for the Boat Race.

“People do feel very strongly about it and we do have sympathy for all the athletes who have missed out based on the rules that are in place and agreed by the clubs.

“But right now the clubs are moving on and from now on we need to focus on those athletes who have been selected and are competing while acknowledging those who have missed out.”