Rogers signs for Team Sky

Former world time trial champion Michael Rogers is the latest rider to join Team Sky.

The 30-year-old will leave the HTC-Columbia team to join the British ProTour squad. Rogers won the rainbow jersey three years in a row – the first time in 2003 after finishing second to Britain's David Millar, who was stripped of the title after confessing to doping offences.

Rogers, who won the Tour of California this season, is the fourth rider to join Team Sky for 2011 after Rigoberto Uran and Xabier Zandio, both from Caisse d'Epargne, and Britain's Alex Dowsett.

Although Rogers has turned his attention away from trying to challenge in the three-week tours, preferring instead to target victories in the week-long stage races, he will be a strong asset for the team time trial, which is set to return to the Tour de France programme.

One rider who is unlikely to be joining Team Sky is the young Australian Richie Porte. CW understands Team Sky made Porte an offer that would have significantly increased his salary, but as he is under contract with Saxo Bank, Bjarne Riis blocked any move.