World time-trial champion Michael Rogers is doing his best to get back to Australia in March to compete in the Commonwealth Games, but is having trouble convincing his new T-Mobile Team to let him go. "I certainly want to go but it comes, however, at a hard time for me, in the middle of two world cups - both in Italy," he said in an interview in The Canberra Times. "I'm still having problems getting a release from the team, but I'm still trying. I can understand it from their point of view. I mean, they're paying my wages and what not, but it's still something I want very much to do."
Rogers also said that the Tour de France was his ultimate goal, even if he knows that this year he will be riding in support of captain Jan Ullrich. "This year I was pretty much the leader, but going to the new team next year, we've got one of the favourites in our team to win," said Rogers, 26. "My job probably will be to look after him in the final parts of every stage, but winning is always an option for me. The Tour is the No. 1 goal, now and in the future, and I know that if I can keep working toward that, the rewards will come."
