By Susan Westemeyer
T-Mobile newcomer, world time trial champion Michael Rogers plans on riding the Giro d'Italia this year. "I have discussed the decision with all the team directors and decided to insert the corsa rosa in my program for 2006," he told www.bicirace.com. "The prologue in Seraing and the time trial stage in Ponedera are very much suited to my style," he said. "Plus there are some medium mountain stages. I think I am in the position to play a role in the overall classification, even though the last week has a very hard profile."
In an interview on cicloweb.it, T-Mobile directeur sportif Giovanni Fidanza confirmed that not only Rogers, but Jan Ullrich will take part in this year's Giro. "Of course Jan will be there," he said, though Ullrich will, "only participate to prepare for the Tour." Sergey Honchar will also line up, Fidanza said, but none of the team's Italian riders are currently rostered to take part, though Daniele Nardello remains a possibility. "The rest of the team will be made up of our young riders, who are looking for experience."
Team spokesman Luuc Eisenga originally said, "Michael would like to ride the Giro. We're only in January now and it's a long time until May. At some point before then the team will decide whether it can fulfil Michael's wishes," but later confirmed to Cyclingnews that "normally he will ride" the Giro.
