 Oxford were pre @-@ race favourites , and won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station , handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge . The race commenced at 11 : 09 a.m. , in a northerly wind , and despite being outrated by Cambridge , the Dark Blues took an early lead and were a quarter of a length ahead as the crews passed Craven Steps . Just before the Mile Post , Oxford 's lead was around half a length , but Cambridge pushed on to take the lead by Hammersmith Bridge . Oxford responded and held a marginal lead as the crews passed The Doves pub , and the boats exchanged the lead several times along Chiswick Reach . 
