Michael Rogers

Originally Posted by thunder

Rogers is on the outer at High Road, and with Columbia on board, doubly so.

Why?

Stapleton, the owner/manager sacked him late last year after the news got out on the car to Freiburg in 2006 with all the TMob riders getting their blood transfusions.

Rogers then threatened legal action. Stapleton remitted. Because he did not have evidence, and any controversy brought down on him could kill the team.

So, Rogers has been out of favour since, he was never gonna ride the perfect program. He may well have Epstein Barr/mononeucleosis/glandular fever whatever it is, but it could be spin.

Anyone on this board will tell you, his 11th in the Dauphine is evidence he could bring his form to near peak, in time for the crucial stages at the Tour if he had to, and was not still ill, or have a recurrence.

So, Stapleton fears the controversy.

Note in the Fairfax and News Ltd press, that Rogers has said he is available for an Australian Protour team. Obviously getting on the front foot, being proactive, probably told Bannan, and Gennie Sheer gets it into the press.

So, best mates Mick Rogers and Alby Davis have lived by the sword, and fallen by the sword. Careers are in limbo cos they fell foul of the doping violations, in one way, or another. Nothing official, just the backroom real politik, screwed them.