IN ADDITION to the FBD Milk Ras having a record number taking part with teams from Ireland, Holland, France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Japan and the Philippines, there will be the distinction of an Olympic champion included for the first time.

Bart Brentjens from Holland, won the gold medal in the mountain bike race at Atlanta and the 28 year old leads a strong Tegeltoto team. With him will be other Dutch national squad members Bram de Groot and Bram Schmitz with sprinters Joost Lighart and Denis Vehema. Another Dutchman, Eons Steuten, was the winner 21 years ago.

Ras organiser Dermot Dignam said the inclusion of Brentjens in the Tegeltoto lineup "raises the profile of the race to a new level in world cycling."

At Atlanta Brentjens was a most convincing winner. He completed the course in two hours 17 minutes and 38 seconds. Martin Earley was 25th at 26:16 and Alastair Martin 32nd of 36 finishers at a further 2:30. Although Brentjens specialises in mountain bike racing and has won the Tour de France mountain bike event for the last two years, he is a regular competitor in road races at the top level and is expected to figure prominently in the Ras, starting on May 17th.