Hoping to break into London top three, hoping to be recognized as Athens top three
In 2012, Michael Rogers (Sky Procycling) could well be the only rider to earn two Olympic time trial medals in a single year. Currently in one of the best seasons of his career, Rogers has a solid chance at breaking into the top three in tomorrow’s Olympic time trial in London.
But in 2004, Rogers was fourth in the Olympic time trial in Athens. Tyler Hamilton took the gold for the United States, Viatcheslav Ekimov grabbed silver for Russia, and the USA’s Bobby Julich got the bronze. As Hamilton has recently stated that his Olympic gold was obtained illegally, Rogers is hoping to be bumped up to third place and presented with the bronze medal.
The time to officially name Rogers as the third place finisher in Athens is running out, however, as the International Olympic Committee abides by an eight-year statute of limitations. Its deadline is next month.
“I’ve heard on the grapevine that in some of the [Australian Olympic Committee’s] presentations, they’re counting that medal,” Rogers said according to Cycling Central. “But I haven’t received any notification. I haven’t pushed it, but ultimately I would like that medal.”
An Australian Olympic official said that Rogers would receive his bronze soon, and that it would only be a matter of time.
Julich is currently a coach on Rogers’ Sky Procycling team, and the Australian veteran said that he likes to give Julich a hard time about possessing “his” bronze.
“I’m always asking him to give me my medal,” Rogers joked. “He tells me he won’t give it to me until he gets his silver.”
Rogers remained humble when speaking about his own chances eight years later, in the London time trial on Wednesday. The three-time World Time Trial Champion is perhaps in his best form in years, when he was winning high-profile tests in the mid-2000s.
Earlier in the month, the Australian was crucial in helping Bradley Wiggins to become the first British rider to win the Tour de France. Before that, he took third in the stage four time trial in the Critérium du Dauphiné. In late May, he won the time trial stage and the overall in Bayern-Rundfahrt. Rogers was also seventh in the Tour de Romandie time trial, and the runner-up in the TT portion of Critérium International.
When asked about the favourites in London, Rogers drew up the three most popular names in modern day time trialing.
“I really see Bradley, Tony [Martin] and Fabian [Cancellara] as a step above everyone,” Rogers revealed. “I can be around the mark, but what position is really hard to predict.”