Michael Rogers of Australia Raring To Go, But Faces Big TT Challenge
BEIJING, Aug 5, 2008 (AFP) - Australian cyclist Michael Rogers is looking
forward to putting his skills back on the international stage after what has
proved to be a trying year for the Columbia Team pro.
Rogers crashed out of the Tour de France last year while in the virtual
yellow jersey, and took months to get over his injuries.
He then battled the effects of glandular fever, setting his career back
further and effectively costing him a place on his team’s squad for this
year’s Tour where they won an impressive five stages.
Rogers returned to competition only fairly recently and he is buoyant over
his second place overall in last month’s Tour of Sachsen in Germany, where he
finished third in the race’s time trial on stage four.
“My condition’s come to its peak just at the right time,” Rogers said.
“I’m pretty glad to get back into condition and make the cut for the
Olympic team. I’m on my way to my third Olympics.”
Rogers is also part of Australia’s five-man team for Saturday’s road race,
where the logical team leader for the hilly course is Cadel Evans, who last
month finished runner-up in the Tour de France for the second consecutive year.
Rogers’ first big personal test will come four days later in the race
against the clock, where he will hope to measure up to the likes of two-time
world champion Fabian Cancellara.
As a former three-time world time trial champion who finished fourth in
Athens in 2004, Rogers has a great chance on paper - although it remains to be
seen whether the men who rode the Tour de France have an advantage.
Rogers’ Olympic time trial spot was secured when Aussie teammate Evans
pulled out with a knee injury.
In the meantime, Evans is waiting to see if he will also contend the race
against the clock after Olympic bosses gave Australia an extra ‘wildcard’ spot.
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