Rogers, a former three-time world time trial champion and overall winner of the Tour of California, is joined at the final WorldTour event of the season by teammates Rory Sutherland, Matti Breschel, Manuel Boaro, Jay McCarthy, Takashi Miyazawa and Evgeny Petrov.

Now 33, Rogers has had a stellar season, finishing second overall in California, sixth at the Criterium du Dauphine and 16th at the Tour de France having been a key ally for Alberto Contador.

“I’ve wanted to come out for a couple of years now so it’s good to be finally here,” he said. “Lombardia was pretty good the other day and I think I can do a good ride here.”

This third edition of the Tour of Beijing marks Rogers’ first time at the race and also the first occasion he’s ridden in China since the Olympic Games in 2008.

“I would be happy for a top five and fingers crossed,” Rogers continued. “The hilly stages are well within my capabilities and my motivation is still quite good and I certainly want to be up there.”

Another rider looking to finish the season off on a strong note is Rory Sutherland. The Australian is in his first season with Saxo-Tinkoff and has so far finished 10th on general classification at the Tour of Turkey, Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire, sixth at the one-day Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta behind now-world champion Rui Costa, and ninth at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Having made his named on the roads of North America, Sutherland is set for his first racing experience in Asia and welcomes the new challenge.

“The roads seem really good,” he said. “I think this time of year that if you have some sort of residual form or if you have form as long as you’re mentally relatively fresh or motivated for it then you can achieve a good result.”

Saxo-Tinkoff line-up for 2013 Tour of Beijing:

Manuele Boaro (ITA, 25):
The time trial specialist was an Italian junior national champion and finished runner-up at the senior time trial in 2011. Just developing at senior level, but his team says that with increasing power, stamina and experience he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Jay Mccarthy (AUS, 21):
Another Australian who has been rewarded for showing promise at the domestic level. Useful in both sprints and the breakaways, McCarthy will use the Tour of Beijing to gain experience in his debut professional season.

Matti Breschel (DEN, 29):
The all-round rider has the potential to spring a massive surprise on his day, winning a silver medal at the 2010 world championships to go with his bronze in the same road race in 2008. The 2008 Danish national champion is the type of rider every team would love to have, both as a support rider and in the one-day classics where he has finished top-10 at the Paris-Roubaix, Gent Wevelgem and the longer Tour of Flanders.

Takashi Miyazawa (JPN, 35):
The veteran has represented many Continental teams, prior to securing a WorldTour contract, and has had 16 professional victories, highlighted by winning the Japanese national road race title in 2010. Effective in both breakaways and as support for the sprint finishes, he represented Japan at the 2008 Olympic Games also in Beijing.

Evgeny Petrov (RUS, 35):
Completed a rare double in 2000 by winning both the under-23 time trial and road race at the world championships. The veteran has since produced a long career and both time trial rider and key domestique, highlighted by a seventh overall placing at the 2007 Giro d'Italia and also won a stage of the same race in 2011.

Michael Rogers (AUS, 33):
The three-time time trial world champion is regularly praised as one of the most astute race tacticians in professional cycling. He has built a career as the super-domestique at the major stage races, particularly at the Tour de France where his best result is ninth overall in 2006. Also has overall victories at Tour of California, Tour Down Under and a fifth placing at the 2008 Olympic Games road race also in Beijing.

Rory Sutherland (AUS, 31):
An experienced rider with strength in the time trial. He was the Australian under23 road race champion in 2004. This season is turning out to be the one of the best of his career, finishing ninth overall at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and tenth overall at the Tour of Turkey.