The 32 year old all-rounder from New South Wales has agreed to a contract for the coming two seasons, adding significant experience and strength to Team Saxo-Tinkoff's roster.

Former TT World Champion Rogers has on many occasions shown his great strength in both the time trialing and the climbing discipline, which make him a super domestique. This season, riding in the service of Team Sky, he proved this by playing a key role in Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France victory.

But Rogers this year also confirmed he is capable of making results on his own. Rogers finished fourth overall in the Tour Down Under, and following a strong kickoff to his season he added a third place finish in the Criterium International, a fifth place in the Tour de Romandie, a win in the Bayern Rundfahrt and a second place finish in Critérium du Dauphiné Libere.

"I think Michael's palmares pretty much speaks for itself. He is without a doubt a World Class rider, a very strong time trialist, who is also capable of climbing, and on top of that he is a great guy. Surely he will add strength to our team throughout the season, and I believe he will be a very important rider for us, both when it comes to helping Alberto (Contador) in Grand Tours and to secure results on his own," Saxo-Tinkoff team owner Bjarne Riis says.

Rogers, himself, is also looking forward to the challenges awaiting him as part of Team Saxo-Tinkoff.

"I'm very excited to be joining an extremely strong and experienced squad at Team Saxo-Tinkoff for the coming seasons. I feel I can have a positive effect particularly during stage races ranging from just a few days right through to the Grand Tours. I certainly look forward to the many new challenges that lay ahead," Rogers commented.

Some cycling analysts speculate that Rogers has been forced to leave Team Sky because of its zero-tolerance policy related to riders or staff members having present or past connections to doping as well as the Sky team's internal housecleaning, which has been part of the fallout from the USADA report on doping in pro cycling.