France won the first cycling gold in the last-day cycling match at the Athens Olympics on Saturday as Olympic debutant Julien Absalon clocked 2:15:02 in the mountain bike cross country.

Spaniard Jose Antonio Hermida finished second with 2:16:02, against 2:17:05 obtained by the bronze medallist Bart Brentjens of Netherlands, who was number one in the Union Cycling International (UCI) ranking.

Defending champion Miguel Martinez of France didn't finish the 43.3km course of seven laps over a 6.1km circuit, which included two climbs and a technical descend in the Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue in Metochi, seven kilometers in north of Athens.

The 24-year-old French rider, who didn't come out to compete at world-level matches after breaking a bone in his wrist in January 2002, took a leading position during all the race.

During the first four laps, Absalon was followed closely by Hermida, who was fourth at Sydney Olympics.

After that, the French cyclist began to show his skillful capability by building a one-minute advantage over Hermida, aged 26.

Hermida took the lead before Brentjens from the second lap, and on the fifth he was surpassed by the Dutch rider, but with a margin being less than one second.

"When I fell on the fifth lap, I told myself I had to continue and I shouldn't lose this opportunity," said Hermida.

The Spaniard pulled away from the 36-year-old Brentjens at the last lap and finished the race with 1.03 minutes ahead of his Dutch rival, who was champion at 1996 Atlanta Games.

"It's a dream and I dreamed it for a year, but I still can't believe it," said the gold medallist after winning the match.

Absalon said he dedicated his victory first to his supporters, then to his coach and his wife who had put up with him during the last few months.

Brentjens said after the race he was happy with third place. "Of course I came to Athens to win a gold medal, but that was not

possible today. I am proud of myself since I am still on the podium," said Brentjens, second placed in cross country at 2004 World Cup in Schladming, Austria.

Results of Olympic men's mountain bike

1. Julien Absalon, France, 2 hours 15 minutes 02 seconds

2. Jose Antonio Hermida, Spain, at 01:00

3. Bart Brentjens, Netherlands, 02:03

4. Roel Paulissen, Belgium, 03:08

5. Liam Killeen, Britain, 03:30

6. Ralph Naef, Switzerland, 04:13

7. Thomas Frischknecht, Switzerland, 04:37

8. Manuel Fumic, Germany, 05:27