Michael Rogers after leaving Sky

[Benotti69]

That is not true

Sadly it is.

He wasn't at the pointy end of GC riders and then dropping them and riding in to the finish ahead of other GCers on cols like 2012 TdF.......

 

[the sceptic]

That is not true

“Early in my career I won some big races and I got to this level doing things a certain way and it must’ve been right for me. Clearly it did work.

“Trying to be the person that I wasn’t in the bike riding sense wasn’t working; it was full of disappointments and morale blows and I’d had enough of it really.”

Clearly it did. But nothing compared to what some marginal gains can do for you.

“I went back to my time trial work and the pleasant surprise is that – because I’m starting to get that good strength back – was climbing just as well as I ever have in the past.”

“I’ve seen a five to seven per cent increase in my general threshold power. And that’s great. It’s also come from working with Tim Kerrison of Team Sky, as Bradley has – and as have most of the guys in the Tour team… we’ve all been training under his guidance and he’s bringing some fresh thoughts into it for all of us.

“There’s a bit of variation and a lot of the techniques have come from his background in swimming. And so far it’s been working well.”

“We did [the Joux Plane climb] in 34:50, I think, and I averaged 440 Watts. That was one of my highest every power reports.”

5.9 w/kg of course But only possible when you ride for sky. Now he is finishing 17 minutes down.

 

[thehog]

"I went through the same meetings as everyone, I signed it," Rogers told Cyclingnews.

However, within weeks Rogers had moved teams and joined Saxo Bank, where he has become one of Alberto Contador's most important teammates.

At the time speculation was rife that Rogers had left the team due his work with the controversial figure, Dr Michele Ferrari. The Australian has gone on the record before about his ties to the Italian doctor, but has always stressed that he used his services for training and nothing more. Further to that, he was named in Levi Leipheimer's testimony with regards to attending s high-altitude training camps at Tenerife, with Ferrari.

Cyclingnews asked Rogers if he understood why there had been speculation surrounding his move to Saxo Bank and that his move was in some way linked to Sky's stance.

"It did look like that, yes, those things did coincide and I didn't go on the record either but I didn't feel that it was necessary. A lot of people wrote big things about it but there wasn't anything behind that. It was just sensationalist headlines."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/move-to-saxo-tinkoff-strictly-financial-says-rogers

 

[gooner]

While they had no problem in disclosing about Yates, De Jongh and Julich it's obvious they didn't want anything to come out on guys like Rogers and Flecha who had dodgy past themselves as they were still active riders.

I say they didn't want to hang them out to dry which would result in a likely ban due to any honest admission coming out. Allow them to move on and protect their careers in the process.

 

[Ferminal]

Of course it was financial, they were able to double dip on their contracts by getting a payout from Sky and signing with other teams immediately.

 

[hrotha]

Didn't they say Rogers was going to extend his contract before the whole zero tolerance thing happened?

 

[Zero Tolerance]

If Rogers left sky because he was worried about being sued if past links to doping were revealed - part of the new contract - doesn't that put sky in a good light on doping? That was a very tough contract. Many people had to leave simply for not coming clean about the past, like Sean Yates.

 

[Taxus4a]

If Rogers left sky because he was worried about being sued if past links to doping were revealed - part of the new contract - doesn't that put sky in a good light on doping? That was a very tough contract. Many people had to leave simply for not coming clean about the past, like Sean Yates.

I dont agree with zero tolerance for many reasons, but it would be funny to see a peloton with all the teams doing that: if Saxo do that Riis and Contador out.. for me yes, would be more credible, but I think that is not the point. Valverde is a great rider and he deserves a second oportunity, I think he could be better with a cleaner peloton. JV is doing a lot inside cyclist, Hamilton talk about him in his book and the only man questioning what US postal was doing, Lance hated him. He was clean after that, said Hamilton.

What SKy did was stupid, IMO, but especially becouse haters are going to be there as well, they dont mind that, and they lost very good people as Julich

Rogers, maybe he is out becouse zero tolerance, I cant say if he doped in the past or not, but that is not very important now IMO

The important think is that after a bad late season 2012 and bad begining of 2013 becouse a disease, he now show he is similar strong that with SKY.

 

[Krebs cycle]

There really seems to be an elephant in this room.

Rogers 2013 start to the season was slow because he had an injury. Since then...

2nd in the Tour of Cali
Currently sitting 4th in the Dauphine.

A frigging 2yr old could see that his performances are about the same.

 

[Zero Tolerance]

I dont agree with zero tolerance for many reasons, but it would be funny to see a peloton with all the teams doing that: if Saxo do that Riis and Contador out.. for me yes, would be more credible, but I think that is not the point. Valverde is a great rider and he deserves a second oportunity, I think he could be better with a cleaner peloton. JV is doing a lot inside cyclist, Hamilton talk about him in his book and the only man questioning what US postal was doing, Lance hated him. He was clean after that, said Hamilton.

What SKy did was stupid, IMO, but especially becouse haters are going to be there as well, they dont mind that, and they lost very good people as Julich

Rogers, maybe he is out becouse zero tolerance, I cant say if he doped in the past or not, but that is not very important now IMO

The important think is that after a bad late season 2012 and bad begining of 2013 becouse a disease, he now show he is similar strong that with SKY.

I understand the objections to zero tolerance, but it does send a strong signal when even aging staff can't be on the team for not admitting to things they did 20 years ago. Who could even run the sky program?

 

[42x16ss]

There really seems to be an elephant in this room.

Rogers 2013 start to the season was slow because he had an injury. Since then...

2nd in the Tour of Cali
Currently sitting 4th in the Dauphine.

A frigging 2yr old could see that his performances are about the same.

They are now, not when the thread was started. Maybe the injury excuse was genuine?Doubt that it was program related as we all know Bjarne knows the score in that field.

I wonder if Froome, Brailsford and co are nervous that Contador's form still has room to improve? Glad to see Saxo has a good road captain this July

 

[Dazed and Confused]

There really seems to be an elephant in this room.

Rogers 2013 start to the season was slow because he had an injury. Since then...

2nd in the Tour of Cali
Currently sitting 4th in the Dauphine.

A frigging 2yr old could see that his performances are about the same.

TT result from this year's CdD (32km):

1 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 6 50 36:54 52.846
2 DENNIS Rohan Garmin - Sharp 4 30 0:47 51.747
3 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling 2 18 0:52 51.633
4 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan Movistar Team 1 13 1:08 51.271
5 KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 1 10 1:13 51.159
6 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald Sky Procycling 7 1:19 51.025
7 PORTE Richie Sky Procycling 4 1:20 51.003
8 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura 3 1:36 50.649
9 PINOTTI Marco BMC Racing Team 2 1:38 50.606
10 THOMAS Geraint Sky Procycling 1 1:42 50.518
11 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team 1:46 50.431
12 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 1:58 50.172
13 CLEMENT Stef Blanco Pro Cycling Team 2:01 50.107
14 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff 2:17 49.766

Result from last year's CdD TT (53km):

1 WIGGINS Bradley Sky Procycling 6 50 1:03:12 50.791
2 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 4 30 0:34 50.340
3 ROGERS Michael Sky Procycling 2 18 1:11 49.858
4 KELDERMAN Wilco Rabobank Cycling Team 1 13 1:25 49.678
5 CHAVANEL Sylvain Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 1 10 1:33 49.575
6 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling 7 ,, ,,
7 DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE 4 1:37 49.524
8 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 3 1:43 49.448
9 MILLAR David Team Garmin - Barracuda 2 1:51 49.347
10 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon Rabobank Cycling Team 1 1:53 49.321

A five year old can easily spot the difference.

But make no mistake. Rogers is a hardcore doper and he will get even better when TdF starts.

 

[happychappy]

If Rogers left sky because he was worried about being sued if past links to doping were revealed - part of the new contract - doesn't that put sky in a good light on doping? That was a very tough contract. Many people had to leave simply for not coming clean about the past, like Sean Yates.

Or maybe it sends a message that they don't want people doping like idiots and getting popped like Ricco with his DIY internet-special doping setup.
Only idiots get caught.

 

[JimmyFingers]

Or maybe it sends a message that they don't want people doping like idiots and getting popped like Ricco with his DIY internet-special doping setup.
Only idiots get caught.

This in all likelihood

 

[Winterfold]

I say they didn't want to hang them out to dry which would result in a likely ban due to any honest admission coming out. Allow them to move on and protect their careers in the process.

I think so too.

Rogers is clearly coming back into some form at the right time, either through recovery from injury, timing his peak, or some quality Bjarne juice. Good, because he could be the one to derail the train.

I look forward to a right old ding **** between Sky and Saxo, amazing that after 30 years hoping for a Brit to win the Tour, now I dont want one to. (Well, culturally, he's as British as Kevin Pietersen - so it doesnt really count.)

 

[Krebs cycle]

A five year old can easily spot the difference.

But make no mistake. Rogers is a hardcore doper and he will get even better when TdF starts.

Yeah but neither you, or a 5yr old have the faintest idea what the coefficient of variation is for an ITT of that length. I doubt you even know what the term "coefficient of variation" actually means and why it is important to the discussion.

 

[happychappy]

amazing that after 30 years hoping for a Brit to win the Tour, now I dont want one to. (Well, culturally, he's as British as Kevin Pietersen - so it doesnt really count.)

I'd love it if Froome wins Le Tour, if only to annoy the cyclingnews forum posters that seem to think the only people that should win bikes races are pretty looking riders with "cute" nicknames and broken English. So romantic.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Yeah but neither you, or a 5yr old have the faintest idea what the coefficient of variation is for an ITT of that length. I doubt you even know what the term "coefficient of variation" actually means and why it is important to the discussion.

When Rogers dopes he is a world class TT'er. Rainbow jersey level performance or thereabouts. He can beat Froome, no problem. Get very close to Wiggins, Cancellara and Martin.

Last year at Sky he was performing at a world class level. I predict he will be very close again at the Tour.

Reliable Rogers.

 

[42x16ss]

I think so too.

Rogers is clearly coming back into some form at the right time, either through recovery from injury, timing his peak, or some quality Bjarne juice. Good, because he could be the one to derail the train.

I look forward to a right old ding **** between Sky and Saxo, amazing that after 30 years hoping for a Brit to win the Tour, now I dont want one to. (Well, culturally, he's as British as Kevin Pietersen - so it doesnt really count.)

This has the makings of an epic Tour, could be something similar to 2003 or 2007. Dope fuelled, totally unbelievable but one heck of a show

Rogers won't derail Sky himself but if Contador is ready for a fight he'll have a good road captain and support (Krueziger, Roche, Zaugg etc.)

 

[leon7766]

All those people who have been using The form of Rogers to beat Sky with
They must feel a bit silly

Im supporting Sky I hope that doesn't get me banned again

 

[JimmyFingers]

depends which mod you say it to

 

[Gloin22]

All those people who have been using The form of Rogers to beat Sky with
They must feel a bit silly

Im supporting Sky I hope that doesn't get me banned again

Indeed lol.

The mighty hog

 

[ciranda]

"Saxo Bank looked at a number Sky's domestiques in the off season as possible targets and landed Rogers late in the year."

From here: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-im-where-i-want-to-be

They just wanted someone from Sky. It was not important who, just needed to be someone with knowledge and ability to explain what they are doing.

Like with Hamilton.

 

[ToreBear]

This is really not that difficult to deconstruct:

Brailsford was happy to go with the Zeroish policy and a garmin love and forgiveness route, but those above him in the hierarchy (the sponsor) wanted no ish included, and did'nt want any kind of news about anything needing to be forgiven, so Brailsford had to get the ex dopers out.

Julich and Dejong confessed publicly, and they now have roles at STB and BMC likely with the highest recommendations from sky, with a "you are a lucky team to get xxx"(which would be true IMHO). Hence they got financial backing and help getting new jobs in the sport.

Yates was likely not willing to talk at all. Likely he is old school, and possibly in the mood for a different life, so he likely got a good severance package.

Rogers was in a different predicament. Had he confessed he would likely have had to serve a ban(worked with DrF and probably doped until 2005-2006) and that could end his career too early for him, and give him a stressfull situation with the media. Hence Brailsford had a chat with Riis, who a few months earlier had been doing all he could to secure riders with enough points to stay in the world tour.

In after the licence was secured came Rogers, who would have had the points to secure it alone. Strange that this transfer did not happen a bit earlier. Well not really, because the USADA case hadn't broken yet, and Rogers would have been unavailable.

Do I think Rogers was clean at sky, and is clean now? Yes I do.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'd love it if Froome wins Le Tour, if only to annoy the cyclingnews forum posters that seem to think the only people that should win bikes races are pretty looking riders with "cute" nicknames and broken English. So romantic.

Cool


Nice to see Rogers again in skyborg shape or at least close. I like it.