Credit: TDWsport.com

 

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Michael Rogers (Canberra, Australia) 28

Mick came into 2007 as the team leader with a specific goal to lead the team in the Tour de France. It was an extremely emotional time for Michael when he was forced to end his Tour short after a crash, particularly when he was riding towards the yellow jersey with good prospects for the general classification. Michael is the kind of person who takes responsibility for his team and therefore it wasn't easy for him to sit at home watching from afar, everything that panned out after his crash. Therefore 2008 will be an exciting year for him to come back and try it all again.

Career highlights

• Stage second place and 2nd overall Tour of Catalonia 2007
• 1st place teams classification Tour de France 2006
• 10th place overall Tour de France 2006
• Stage win and second overall Regio-Tour 2006
• Three-times time trial world champion 2005, 2004, 2003
• Second overall Tour de Suisse 2005
• Stage and overall winner Route du Sud 2004
• Stage and overall winner Deutschland-Tour 2003
• Stage and overall winner Tour of Belgium 2003
• Stage and overall winner Tour Down Under 2002

I've been racing since I was seven years old; I guess it's in my DNA.

Cycling is a special sport because it follows so much culture and history. I think it is the only sport where fans can still get close enough to touch the top athletes as they're performing.

My goal in 2008 is to make the Tour de France podium.