THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING »

Get the VeloNews Email Newsletter FREE

  Learn More | Archive
Home » Top Stories » Road »

Rogers scores TT hat trick

Published: Sep. 22, 2005
Rogers knew he had it when he crossed the line
Rogers knew he had it when he crossed the line
Photo: Agence France Presse

Bobby Julich sat alone in the U.S. team tent after finishing Thursday’s 44.1km men’s elite world time trial championships not quite believing his eyes as he watched the final riders come through the finish line. His time of 55:19.86 would only be good enough to stick for 11th, 1:45 behind winner Michael Rogers and nowhere near the top podium spots where he expected he’d finish. “Right now I have to admit it stings, because I wanted to end the season on a high note,” Julich said after toweling down for the final time of the 2005 season. “I shouldn’t have even bothered to come if I knew I was going to finish 11th.” The result is only a minor disappointment in what’s been the best season ever for Julich. The 33-year-old won Paris-Nice, Criterium International and the Tour of Benelux as well as helping push Team CSC teammate Ivan Basso into second overall at the Tour de France. Under sunny skies and ideal race conditions, Aussie rider Rogers won an unprecedented third consecutive time trial crown while Spanish rider Ivan Gutíerrez edged Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara by just 0.12 seconds to round out the podium. Julich was among the favorites on the undulating Casa de Campo course west of downtown Madrid, but he admitted the toll of the long racing season left his legs feeling heavy. “I’ve raced close to 100 days and I’ve finished every one. It’s been a long season for me and I really tried to milk it to the end,” said Julich, the lone American among the 48-rider field. “The legs were heavy on the course. I just didn’t have anymore gas.” Julich officially ends his 2005 campaign. He’s scheduled to fly back to Nice, France, on Thursday night and then return to the United States next week. Julich’s disappointment was in sharp contrast to the celebration inside the Australian national team tent. Rogers made up for frustration in the Tour de France with an impressive victory ahead of a strong field, his first since winning last year’s world title in Verona, Italy. “I tried to ride within myself in the first lap and try to make up the difference in the last third of the race. I saw in the U-23 race yesterday that that’s where the biggest differences were made,” said Rogers, who becomes the first rider to win three world time trial titles. “I’m happy to get this out of the way. There’s been a lot of pressure on my shoulders the last couple of months. I don’t like to wait until the end of the season to get a win, but that’s the way it’s been.” Rogers was the last starter among the field that also saw Alexandre Vinokourov (5th at 1:20 slower), Ryder Hesjedal (22nd at 2:42), Viatcheslav Ekimov (28th at 3:07) and Eric Wohlberg (34th at 3:40).

Three's a charm
Three's a charm
Photo: Graham Watson

Brad Wiggins (eventually seventh at 1:31) set the early fastest time, but was bumped by Gutíerrez who came through under 54 minutes. Wiggins was fastest at the first split at 10.5km, but Gutíerrez was fastest at the second split at 21.9km. Rogers then roared over the final half of the course, setting the fastest splits at 33km and making up 14 seconds on Gutíerrez in the final 11km. “I am content to get a medal, but don’t doubt it, the best one is the gold medal,” said Gutíerrez, who admitted he botched some corners. “My physical condition is good, but I made some errors in the race and that’s the winning difference.” Cancellara’s third place marked a podium sweep for young riders against more experienced veterans. Gutíerrez is 26, Rogers 25 and Cancellara 24. The young Swiss rider, a winner of the 2004 Tour prologue, said the podium bodes well for the future. “For me to win a medal in a race this long, it’s a great accomplishment for me,” he said. “The (Tour) prologue win is very different. It’s a much shorter course, so you cannot compare it. I’ve shown today that I am not just a prologue specialist, but a good time trial rider.” Racing action takes a break Friday and resumes Saturday with the U-23 men’s and elite women’s road race before the elite men’s road race Sunday. Men’s time trial – results
1. Michael Rogers (Aus)
44.1 km in 53min 34sec
2. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Sp) at 0:23.77
3. Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
at 0:23.89
4. Ruben Plaza (Sp)
at 0:44
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kz)
at 1:20
6. Andrei Kashechkin (KAZ) 1:29
7. Bradley Wiggins (GB), at 1:31
8. Sebastian Lang (G), at 1:35
9. Matias Medici (Arg), at 1:37
10. Victor Hugo Pena (Col), at 1:41
11. Bobby Julich (USA), at 1:45
12. Ondrej Sosenka (CZ), at 1:55
13. Ben Day (Aus), at 2:05
14. Marzio Bruseghin (I), at 2:11
15. Michael Rich (G), at 2:13
16. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat), at 2:16
17. Marco Pinotti (I), at 2:22
18. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr), at 2:26
19. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), at 2:29
20. Jan Hruska (Cz), at 2:37
21. Brian Vandborg (Dk), at 2:42.54
22. Ryder Hesjedal (Can), at 2:42.82
23. Denis Menchov (Rus), at 2:45
24. Bert Roesems (B), at 2:49
25. Gregor Gazvoda (Slo), at 2:56
26. James Lewis Perry (RSA), at 2:58
27. Gustav Larsson (S), at 3:00
28. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus), at 3:07
29. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn), at 3:12
30. Sylvain Chavanel (F), at 3:18

Michael Rogers
Date of birth: 20/12/1979
Place of birth: Barham (Australia)
Nationality: Australian
Height: 1.85 m
Weight: 75 kg

Teams: Mapei (2001 and 2002), Quick Step (2003-present)
Results/honors:
World time trial champion: 2003, 2004, 2005
Stage races:
Tour of Germany 2003 (plus one stage time trial)
Tour of Belgium 2003
Route du Sud 2003 (plus one stage time trial)
Tour Down Under 2002 (plus one stage)GP de Beauce 2002

Photo Gallery