Despite a provisional suspension, Tinkoff-Saxo team expressed their trust in Michael Rogers’ innocence after the Australian tested positive for clenbuterol in the Japan Cup last October. Thus, the squad owner Oleg Tinkov was pleased to welcome the former time trial world champion back in the professional peloton after he was cleared from accusations by the UCI last week, and stated that he expects the 34-year old rider to be an important enforcement in Alberto Contador’s Tour de France campaign.

“He called me when he was cleared, I said congratulations but from the very beginning I had faith in him and I believed him. I know there are many athletes from other sports having this issue in China, so he’s not the only one, but we welcome the end of this story,” Oleg Tinkov said.

Right after being cleared from doping accusations, Rogers stated that he aims to return to competition as quickly as possible, and his wish was fulfilled as the Australian lined up at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege yesterday in his first showing since last October.

Even though, facing a huge challenge of negotiating the demanding 267 kilometers-long route of La Doyenne as his first event in over six months, Rogers didn’t manage to finish the race, the Tinkoff-Saxo rider proved that he trained well during his suspension by hugely contributing to the team work setting Roman Kreuziger for the finale.

Thus, Tinkov was pleased with yesterday’s performance of the 34-year old Australian and expressed his confidence about Rogers being an important enforcement to the Danish squad for the Tour de France campaign in July.

“Of course I’m happy that he’s back because he’s a great helper for Roman today in the race and will be for Alberto Contador in the Tour de France. He’s a powerful missile,” Tinkov told Cyclingnews.

“We’ll see [about the Tour], normally yes but it depends. If he abandons all the races before the Tour de France then he won’t do it,” Tinkov joked.