Baldini joins strong London field

Baldini opens Olympic torch relay

Athens Olympic champion Stefano Baldini has joined the impressive-looking field for next year's London Marathon.

The Italian will line up alongside double world champion Jaouad Gharib and former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi in London on 23 April.

Paul Tergat, Hendrick Ramaala and double Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie are already confirmed.

"This is the strongest men's field we have ever seen in London," said race director Dave Bedford.

"This race will go down as a true classic."

The event will also feature Kenya's Martin Lel, who won in London this year, and Evans Rutto, the 2004 champion.

Tergat and Ramaala will go head-to-head after producing one of the closest finishes in history on Sunday.

Kenyan Tergat won Sunday's New York marathon by just one second after out-sprinting Ramaala at the death.

Ramaala, from South Africa, said: "I was beaten by a big champion - I'd love to race Paul again. He is running in London so I want to be there for sure."