Rogers happy to be among tour favourites

But the three-time former world champion will be hoping for no repeatof last weekend's tactical blunder in the national road championships,a mistake that cost him glory.

Rogers and Team Columbia teammate Adam Hansen made a botch of thesprint for the line on Sunday, allowing the unheralded Peter McDonaldto beat them in the three-man finish at the end of the 163km race.

It was an embarrassing result for the European-based professionals butRogers remained philosophical as he tuned up for the opening Pro Tourevent of the season.

Rogers said changes made to the Tour Down Under route this year wouldsuit his style, with more climbs and tougher stages making it harderfor the sprinters.

He also comes into the tour after hitting great form at the nationalswhere, as well as picking up the silver medal in the road race, he wonthe time trial.

"But it's not an easy race to win, there's a heap of good riders here,"Rogers said. "There's probably 10 or 12 guys that, given the chance,could win it really easily."

Team Columbia boss Alan Peiper admitted to dressing down his Australian pair after the nationals.

But he said while the result shouldn't have happened, it showed the depth of talent in Australian cycling.

"You can't come down on them too hard," he said. "At the same time theyneed to realise they're professionals and we shouldn't have lost it."

Peiper said his team would go into the tour to defend the crown of last year's winner Andre Greipel of Germany.

They have come to Adelaide with plenty of firepower, with Rogers andveteran American George Hincapie also capable of stage and overallhonours.

Peiper praised the changes to the route, which mean it will be less of a "sprinters' festival".

"(Race director) Mike Turtur has done a great job in ramping it up justa little which won't put the sprinters out of contention but won't makeit a cakewalk for them either," he said.