According to the Dutch media, Michael Rogers will make his comeback to the professional peloton facing a great challenge provided by the Liege-Bastogne-Liege route on Sunday, after the Tinkoff-Saxo rider has been cleared from the doping allegations by the UCI two days ago.
Rogers tested positive for clenbuterol following his appearance at the Tour of Beijing and Japan Cup last October, but the 34-year old Australian consequently insisted that the result was due to contaminated food he ate in China and he has never deliberately ingested any banned substances.
Following four months without any information about the progress in Rogers case, the UCI eventually accepted rider’s explanations and their decision was backed by the Cycling Australia.
Relieved after acknowledging good news, Rogers revealed on Wednesday that despite being provisionally suspended by the Danish team he worked on his condition every day, including attending an altitude training camp on Mount Etna with Tinkoff-Saxo Giro d’Italia team. He also aimed to return to racing as quickly as possible in order to build his form towards the Tour de France.
According to Wielerflits, the Tinkoff-Saxo management decided to satisfy the request of the 34-year old Australian and provided him with a tough challenge of negotiating a hilly Liege-Bastogne-Liege route in his first outing since last October.
Last year’s Amstel Gold Race champion Roman Kreuziger will lead the Danish squad in the oldest of cycling monuments, backed by the likes of Chris Anker Sörensen or Karsten Kroon.
The Tinkoff-Saxo roster for Liege-Bastogne-Liege consists of:
Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, Karsten Kroon, Chris Anker Sörensen, Rory Sutherland, Bruno Pires, Edward Beltran and Michael Valgren.
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