Brentjens has fourth Olympics in sights

By Paul Verkuylen

After Sunday's World Cup, Bart Brentjens has his fourth Olympic Games more firmly in his sights. The 38 year-old Dutch mountain biker from Haelen in the Netherlands, who won the cross country at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and placed third at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finished 11th in the second World Cup event in Offenburg, Germany.

That result fulfilled the NOCNSF (Dutch Olympic Committee) requirements that riders must finish within the first 12 places in a World Cup event in order to qualify for a spot on the team.

Sunday's World Cup was won the Frenchman Julien Absalon, followed home by fellow country man Cédric Ravanel, third was Switzerland's Flückiger. 1995 world champion Brentjens finished almost seven minutes behind in the wet and muddy race and is now placed 19th overall in the World Cup standings with 107 points. He will aim to hold on to his form to secure his spot on the team.