Centrebet.com.au – Michael Rogers
March 10, 2009 11:00 am General Sportwww.centrebet.com.au – Australian cyclist Michael Rogers has showed very promising signs ahead of this year’s Tour de France after capturing outright second in the United States’ biggest cycling event – the Tour of California.
Rogers sits just twenty fours seconds behind overall leader Levi Leipheimer who crossed the line in second place (receiving the same time as the winner Thomas Peterson) in the hilly 187 km second stage.
The pair broke away in the dying stages to hold out for an eventual twenty one second win over a chase group of eighteen that included Rogers, Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso and Frank Schleck.
Rogers is aiming for a strong Tour de France this year after he has suffered from illness and injury in the last two Tours.
His second placing follows a win in the Australian time trail championships as well as finishing a very creditable sixth place in this year’s Tour Down Under.
Lance Armstrong’s team mate Leipheimer secured the yellow jersey in the Tour of California after a bold move on the final hill climb of the stage in which he kicked clear.
Fellow American Peterson was the only rider who managed to jump on his wheel and powered past him at the finish after sitting on his wheel for the entirety of the breakaway.
The stage was held in what only can be described as atrocious conditions and driving rain and gale force winds made going forward extremely difficult.
Leipheimer created and survived the only breakaway of the brutal stage for a well earned yellow jersey.
Armstrong praised his team mate’s efforts labeling him clearly the best rider in the race. centrebet.com.au
To Bet on NRL click the link