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Australian Open Road Championships - NE
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, January 7-11, 2009
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Stage 3 - January 8: Men's Time Trial, 39 km
Rogers claims elusive time trial win
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Canberra's Michael Rogers (Team Columbia) today finally added the elite Australian title to his resume with victory in the Australia Elite Men's time trial crown at the 2009 Australian Open Road Championships in Buninyong, Victoria. Rogers last claimed an Australian time trial win in 1996 when he won the U19 event but since then has forged a spectacular career in professional cycling which had included three times winning the time trial at the World Championships (2003, 2004, 2005).
But it was a close run victory as 20-year-old West Australian Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Chipotle) posted a sensational performance to finish just six seconds behind to claim the silver medal in his first race as an elite professional. Competitors battled high winds on the challenging 39km course, with Rogers averaging 47.76km/hour to finish in a time of 48:59.69, ahead of Meyer (49:05.56), with Tasmanian Richie Porte (Praties) in third place (50:50.45).
"I have never won these Championships before so it's a very proud moment for me and to have the chance to wear the green and gold all around the world is a proud thing… to have on my shoulders," said Rogers.
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After spending Christmas with his wife and young twin daughters in Italy, he arrived in Australia just four days ago. Rogers held a five second lead on Meyer at the half way point and reached speeds close to 100km/hour aided by a tailwind on the descent in the last few kilometres to hold on to his advantage.
"The conditions were really tough out there, it was quite cool and there seemed to be a head wind most of the way around," the Beijing Olympian said. "I had a good gap at the halfway distance and knew I just had to hold it together.
"I have come from a winter in Italy and have done all my training over there, so it is certainly great to be back as I miss coming out to Australia and racing here," said Rogers who in 2007, whilst virtual leader on the road, suffered a crash that forced him out of the Tour de France.
Last year Rogers was struck down with Epstein Barr virus and only returned to racing mid-season. Despite this he posted two top 10 performances in Beijing with sixth in the road race and eighth in the time trial at the Olympic Games.
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"To come back after two years of misfortunes and sicknesses I am just really happy to be back to top condition and back on the top of the podium."
Rogers also paid tribute to young Meyer. "He is a classy rider and to already be riding well in his first event as a senior (means) if he keeps everything together he will be a class act for years to come," said Rogers.
Rogers will now concentrate on a possible double gold as he prepares for Sunday's 163km elite men's road race. "By winning today I think I have confirmed I have condition at a top level," he said.
Meyer, who recently signed a professional contract with Garmin-Chipotle, immediately made his mark in the elite ranks with an outstanding ride over the elite distance. In September last year he claimed the bronze medal in the U23 time trial at the road World Championships in Italy raced over a distance of 33.5km.
"It's all a bit surreal, I really didn't know what to expect being only 20 so to be on the podium and be only six seconds off the win, I have to be happy," said Meyer. "Part of me is like you just missed it, but when you have the three time world champion standing next to you, you just have to be happy.
"It's all happening very quickly," said Meyer. "This is my first week racing the big boys and to start with a silver medal gives me great hope for the rest of the year."
Meanwhile Porte, who was fifth in the event last year, was happy to step up onto the podium. In January last year after finishing ninth overall in the 2008 Tour Down Under Porte's year was interrupted by an accident that resulted in a fractured hip. However he returned to form in September to win the Tour of Tasmania.
"I am pretty happy really, I didn't really expect it as I haven't been doing any specific time trial training so it's nice to get up on the podium," said Porte.
Defending champion Adam Hansen, who has been training in Cairns in hot, tropical conditions to prepare for today struggled in the cool Ballarat conditions and did not have a good ride. He finished well off the pace finishing more than three minutes behind Rogers in 11th (52:37.64).
"I went really well for the first few kilometres but then I just couldn't get going," said a disappointed Hansen. "My heart rate was at 160 beats per minute most of the way and I kept telling myself I needed to go faster but I just couldn't do it."
Two-time medallist, Rory Sutherland, withdrew prior to the race due to illness.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- First man off Chris Thompson on the climb
- Ben Cureton was tenth in the 2009 time trial Championships
- Reece Stephens from Victoria on the climb. Last week he was in criterium action in the Bay Classics
- Jacob Sutherland powered up the climb on the aero bars
- Rhys Pollock was thirteenth fastest
- David Pell rode to sixth place
- Dylan Newell finished in twelfth position
- Mark Hewat with David Fairburn in the distance on the long long climb of Midland Road Highway
- Cameron Wurf was fourth just over 2 minutes down on Rogers
- Chris Jongewaard is more usually seen on a mountain bike but his fifth place shows his speed on the road too
- Robert Hodgson out of the saddle
- Cameron Meyer (Garmin Chipotle) claimed silver in the men's TT
- Richie Porte was third and gained the bronze medal
- Michael Rogers in action on his way to victory
- Adam Hansen was disappointed with his ride and could only place eleventh overall
- Ben Cureton speeds to the finish line
- Chris Martin has the finish line in his sights
- Robert Williams buries himself on the way to the finish
- Michael Rogers (Columbia) on his way to the gold medal his first Australian elite time trial title
- The medalists wait for the ceremony to begin
- Michael Rogers (Columbia) tops the podium with Cameron Mayer (Garmin Chipotle) and Richie Porte (Prates), l & r.
Results
1 Michael Rogers (ACT) 48.59 (47.760 km/h) 2 Cameron Meyer (WA) 0.06 3 Richie Porte (TAS) 1.51 4 Cameron Wurf (TAS) 2.07 5 Chris Jongewaard (SA) 2.58 6 David Pell (VIC) 3.00 7 Chris Martin (SA) 8 Darren Rolfe (QLD) 3.26 9 Peter Milostic (NSW) 3.30 10 Ben Cureton (WA) 3.38 11 Adam Hansen (QLD) 12 Dylan Newell (VIC) 4.06 13 Rhys Pollock (VIC) 4.07 14 Peter McDonald (NSW) 4.21 15 Robert Hodgson (NSW) 4.56 16 Jacob Sutherland (VIC) 4.58 17 Brent Miller (ACT) 5.01 18 Troy Glennan (NSW) 5.03 19 Robert Williams (NSW) 5.40 20 John Cornish (VIC) 5.41 21 Hayden Brooks (QLD) 5.42 22 Rob Doyle (VIC) 5.44 23 Stuart Shaw (ACT) 5.51 24 Nicholas Mitchell (VIC) 6.13 25 Damien Turner (VIC) 6.21 26 Phillip Chapman (NSW) 6.24 27 William Clarke (TAS) 6.33 28 Neil Manning (WA) 7.05 29 Chris Thompson (WA) 7.07 30 Peter Ladd (VIC) 7.17 31 Robert Regester (VIC) 7.45 32 Mark Fenner (NSW) 7.53 33 Reece Stephens (VIC) 8.18 34 Mark Hewat (VIC) 8.19 35 Ashley Humbert (NSW) 8.24 36 Nicholas Shipp (VIC) 8.41 37 Giuseppe Cirella (QLD) 9.14 38 Adam Broit (QLD) 9.58 39 Erik Meliegers (WA) 10.00 40 David Fairburn (VIC) 10.52 41 Kristian Hollins (QLD) 11.25 42 Donatas Bludzis (VIC) 13.11 43 Michael Owen (QLD) 14.48 DNS Reece-Emerson Van Beek (VIC) DNS Rory Sutherland (USA)
