Less than 24 hours after their dramatic homestretch duel at Sunday's ING New York City Marathon, Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala have already agreed to a rematch at the Flora London Marathon next April.

"This exciting rematch will be eagerly anticipated, especially as Tergat's great arch rival and old friend Haile Gebrselassie, will also be joining them," said Dave Bedford, Race Director for the London race. Gebrselassie, who last month clocked 2:06:20 at the ING Amsterdam Marathon, the year's fastest performance, agreed to a three-year deal with London organizers last January.

Last Sunday, Tergat, who set the world record holder of 2:04:55 at the real Berlin Marathon in 2003, and Ramaala, the defending New York champion, waged a thrilling battle that was not decided until the race's final few meters. Tergat won in 2:09:30 to Ramaala's 2:09:31, the closest finish ever in New York's 36 editions.

The trio are not newcomers to London's faster course, but none have managed a victory in the British capital.

In his four appearances there, Tergat, 36, finished second in 2001 and 2002 (2:08:15 and 2:05:48 respectively), fourth in 2003 (2:07:59), and eighth last April. Gebrselassie was third in his debut over the distance in 2002, finishing 47 seconds behind Tergat in 2:06:35. Achilles tendonitis forced him to withdraw this year.

Like Tergat, the 33-year-old Ramaala will also be making his fifth London appearance. The South African was third in 2005 (2:08:32), fifth in 2000 (2:09:43), eighth in 2003 (2:08:58) and ninth in 2001 (2:12:02).

World record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain is the only elite woman announced for the April 23 event.