The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, January 7) -- As the year 2008 begins, Michael Rogers, the Australian cyclist and champion of the point race in three world championships, set his goal for the New Year: double championship titles in the 2008 Tour de France and the Beijing Olympic Games.
Rogers said the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympic Games were his targets. The two events are set very close and therefore the year will be very busy for him. Rogers expressed his determination that he would not hold back since both events were so important; he will not choose to compete in one over the other.
The 08 Le Tour de France will be held on July 5-27, 2008 and the Olympic cycling event will be held in August. Two events in such a short interval are severe tests for cyclists. Rogers is going to have to live up to the difficulties.
From 2003 to 2005, Rogers claimed the championship title in three consecutive world championship point races. However, in the Athens Olympic Games, he missed the bronze, ending up in fourth place. He always remembered the result as a failure and therefore hopes for good results in the Beijing Olympic Games.
In the two most recent Tour de France competitions, Rogers did not perform well. He took 9th place in 2006 and with his fall off the hill in 2007, he withdrew from the race. He hopes that in 2008 he can get over his failures, wearing the yellow jersey and becoming an Olympic champion.
