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Enlarge textMichael Rogers has been talking up his form in the weeks leading up to the Giro and today he finds himself and his Columbia team in an ideal position.
Michael Rogers (C) on the podium with Team Columbia (Getty)
- 34 Comments | Join the discussion
Michael Rogers has been talking up his form in the weeks leading up to
the Giro and today he finds himself and his Columbia team in an ideal
position.
His British teammate Mark Cavendish will wear the
leader's jersey when stage two gets underway, but more significantly,
Rogers will enjoy a psychological edge over his main rivals when the
Giro hits the open road.
Scan the General Classification and you'll find Rogers as the best placed Aussie and the best placed of the overall contendors.
He heads Levi Leipheimer, Lance Armstrong, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego and Carlos Sastre, just to name a few.
Rogers
certainly looked the part wearing the green and gold jersey as
Australia's reigning time trial champion and morale will be lifted when
Cav slips into pink.
For Cavendish to be first across the line when the team came home was a clever directive from team management.
Why?
Because man from the Isle of Man is likely to win his share of stages
when the sprints get underway in earnest - and stay in the maglia rosa
at least until the roads start to tilt skywards in stage four.
It's been a long, hard road to redemption for Rogers.
After his heartbreaking mishap at the 2007 Tour de France when his race ended after crashing into a ditch, he deserves a break.
Here's hoping good luck is on his side in his first appearance in a Grand Tour in almost two years.
Sure,
there's a long way to go before the Rome finish on May 31 and as we've
seen in big races of the past, it's never over till it's over.
However, already the signs are encouraging and I, for one, am hoping Rogers can build on his advantage.
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Comments (34)
Previous 10 |
15 Jul 2009 19:48 AEST
From: Sunshine Coast QLD
Roses to Phill
Thank you Phill for your wonderfull Commentary of each stage. And Your colourfull knowledge of the countryside is a delight to listen to. Keep On keeping on Phill. Warm regards Annie
21 May 2009 18:25 AEST
From: Maroubra
--
Good luck today Mick... i'll be watching with all fingers and limbs crossed - hope you blow them away!
17 May 2009 22:22 AEST
From: melbourne
--
I used to love watching the cycling with my husband, but this commentator is atrocious - I have trouble understanding him, let alone follow his thinking. We are now laughing at this coverage which is a shame really.......roll on Tour de France. Looking forward to understanding Mike T and the gang
17 May 2009 13:50 AEST
From: sydney
--
I think Michael rogers is going to have the time trial of his life on Stage 12 because because personally i think Leipheimer and menchov will overtake him in the mountains. He will also need 2 to 3 mins on Di Luca and Basso who are pure climbers. big time gaps will appear on this stage and will be iintersting to watch now with mike tomlaris and trent wilson.
17 May 2009 7:27 AEST
From: Prestons
Finally a good commentary
The Giro just got the commentary it deserved. It was a pleasure to watch a slightly extended broadcast and listen to Mike and (?). Well done guys.
16 May 2009 16:20 AEST
From: Maroubra
--
Is there any way we can send Mike works of encouragement? Or will you pass on our comments from here, Phil?
13 May 2009 22:41 AEST
From: Nowra
--
It's too early to be making serious predictions on various riders form. Let's see how things stand after stages 10 (Cuneo - Pinerolo) and 12 (ITT). Stages 16 (Pergola - Monte Petrano) 17 (Chieti - Blockhaus) will make some selections, but more likely 19 (Avellino - Vesuvio) will decide the Giro. Re Paddy, I'll put up with him if the alternative is no TV coverage at all.
13 May 2009 22:12 AEST
From: Kalmunda Western Australia
Not worth wathching
With a commentater, so terrible that it totally spoils the whole event,"Please " give us the good guys like Phill, Paul even Mike would be fantastic !!
13 May 2009 14:34 AEST
From: Sydney
--
Hiya all, allow me to pull you all back on track with comments relevant to racing and Mick Rogers. We understand your frustrations, are monitoring/recording them all and assessing the situation. Comments about the commentary can be directed to comments@sbs.com.au. As as far as the racing goes after today, it looks to me like Columbia are really well placed to put Michael Rogers in pink, I like that they have a man ahead on GC which frees him up a bit. Their team support and tactics appears to be spot on for this race.
13 May 2009 12:44 AEST
From: Sydney
--
Obviously, SBS is NOT going to listen, or give comment on the "commentator" they are using for the Giro. I have been so looking forward to the coverage of this (and the other stage races), that I am really disappointed that SBS has dished up this 9th-rate commentator. I have taken to watching with the sound turned down as soon as Paddy(whacker) starts to mumble.......
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