Tour of California victor stakes everything on strong Tour de France
Tony Martin’s goal of winning the Tour de Suisse has just become a little more difficult following the announcement that his HTC Colombia team-mate Michael Rogers has decided to leave the race.
Rogers is focussed on having a strong Tour de France and has decided to head to the high mountains for a period of altitude training.
Martin finished third to Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) in Saturday’s prologue time trial and then took over the race lead on yesterday’s third stage to Schwarzenburg. He finished tenth on the stage and gained seven seconds on Cancellara, moving into the yellow jersey. He started today’s stage one second clear of the Swiss rider, with Thomas Lövkvist (Sky Professional Cycling Team) a further eight seconds back.
Martin will need his team’s help to defend the jersey, but with the Tour de France a bigger goal, Rogers felt he needed to follow through on his original training objectives.
“Michael expressed interest at the beginning of the year to be at altitude in the lead up to the Tour de France,” said team manager Rolf Aldag today. “So we are supporting him in this plan.”
Rogers has shown his best form in several years, winning the Tour of California and Vuelta a Andalucia and taking a number of other strong placings in races. He was second overall in the Criterium International, and third in both the Montepaschi Strade Bianche and the Tour de Romandie. Because of that, the team has faith in his chances for July’s big event.
“Ideally he would continue at the Tour de Suisse where we have the Yellow Jersey and some exciting racing ahead,” said Aldag. “But after a tough race at the Tour of California and with the ultimate goal being his form at the Tour, this is the best option for him.”
The 30 year old finished ninth overall in the 2006 Tour de France, then crashed out in 2007 while looking set to take over the yellow jersey of race leadership. He has not ridden the race since, due partly to a bout of the Epstein Barr virus, but is determined to shine this year.
Martin should also be a strong rider for the general classification. Before then, he’ll try to win the Tour de Suisse, and should be able to defend his lead on today’s mainly flat stage to Wettingen. A bunch sprint is thought the most likely outcome.
His HTC Columbia team squad probably have to do the bulk of the work, both in defending the race lead and also in setting up his team-mate Mark Cavendish for the stage victory.