by Justin Davis

ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 19, 2009 (AFP) – Australian Michael Rogers is ready to put the pain of the past two seasons firmly behind him as he saddles up for the Tour Down Under with renewed dreams of success in 2009.

A three-time world time-trial champion by the time he was 25, Rogers was hailed early in his career as a potential Tour de France winner.

But in a dramatic 2007, a year after losing his coveted world crown to Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara, his career came to a shuddering halt.

Injury, illness and a controversial career decision tested Rogers’ morale.

It is only now, after winning the Australian time trial title a few weeks ago, that Rogers’ smile has returned. It has arrived just in time, as he looks to racing at both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.

“Winning the time trial at the nationals and finishing second in the road race has been great,” Rogers told AFP Monday, a day before the start of Tour Down Under’s first stage.

“This year it’s important for me to start well and keep moving on throughout the year.”

After missing out on last year’s Tour de France, Rogers is keen to get reacquainted with the world’s biggest race, especially after his team, Columbia, won five of the 21 stages in 2008.

But he admits it will be crucial to perform well elsewhere, beginning with the his planned tilt at the Tour of California in February.

“For a long time I only concentrated on the Tour de France, but now I’ve decided to take my focus a little off this big goal. It won’t be my only goal,” he added.

Two years ago was a tumultuous years for Rogers.

In June 2007, he announced having worked with Michele Ferrari, an Italian sports doctor revered by top athletes, despite now being banned from practicing in Italy.

Ferrari, who also collaborated with Lance Armstrong early in the American’s career, became infamous in the 90s after lauding the benefits of the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin).

Rogers says he had nothing to hide but admits the episode could have left a black mark on his career.

“Maybe it could have damaged my image a little bit, but from the start I was always transparent about the whole thing,” he said Monday.

“Maybe if I hadn’t told the truth it could have blown up, but looking back I was glad I spoke openly and transparently about it.”

Columbia manager Allan Peiper, highlighting his team’s code of conduct, says he has no doubts over Rogers’ integrity.

“If he was training with him (Ferrari) years ago, it was before this era.
What he was or wasn’t doing, I can’t comment,” said Peiper.

“All I know is I’ve worked with him for two years, under (team owner) Bob Stapleton, and very stringent controlling methods. I can’t delve into the past. You can only have faith that the guy has made the right decision.”

In July 2007 Rogers crashed out of the Tour de France with a serious shoulder injury while he was in the virtual yellow jersey. His planned return was then pushed back months after a bout of glandular fever.

By the time Rogers got back to competition in 2008, Columbia considered him too much of a risk for the Tour de France.

After a promising display at last year’s Olympic Games Rogers is ready to play a significant role in this year’s race, Peiper believes.

“This winter he’s come out fighting. He’s going from strength to strength mentally and physically,” added Peiper.

“A top ten result at the Giro would be fantastic for his confidence ahead of the Tour, which opens with a 16km time-trial prologue in Monaco, where he lives.

“He’s on the way back. We have to see how high he can climb the ladder, but he’s capable of winning big races and claiming top ten places in the Tour.”

File Photo by: CorVos Pro