Australian Michael Rogers overcame scorching heat, a near disasterous crash with a race marshal’s motorbike and his rivals to take overall leadership of the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under in Australia on Saturday.

In the toughest stage of the race, 156km from Gawler to Tanunda, Rogers (AIS) finished second, 10 seconds behind Australian and former mountain-biker Cadel Evans (Mapei). Then 11 seconds behind him in third-place came Italian Daniele Nardello (Mapei).

Cadel Evans

Photo: Graham Watson

Going into the sixth and final stage, Rogers will now lead the race by 21 seconds from Russian Alexandre Botcharov (AG2R) and 30 seconds from Australian Patrick Jonker (Uni SA).

Evans launched his stage-winning attack from a five-strong lead group with three kilometers to go, and moved up to fourth place overall at 40 seconds.

On a day where the field raced in 42 degrees C (107.6 F) heat from Gawler to Tanunda, the outcome also provided Australians a chance to see how strong Mapei can be. While Rogers is racing here for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) team, he usually rides for Mapei. So in real terms, Saturday’s race ended with a Mapei one-two-three.

For Mapei, yesterday brought added rewards. Evans also became leader of the King of the Mountains category and Mapei is placed first in the teams classification.

However, Rogers’s brilliant and dogged riding on a course that included two ascents up the steep wall that is Mengler’s Hill was an effort deserving of a standout ovation by the crowd.

On Thursday Rogers claimed his first win as a Mapei professional, taking the third stage to Strathalbyn. But that win paled in significance compared to the drama of Saturday’s ride.

The day could have ended in disaster for Rogers after he was accidentally hit by a race marshal’s motorbike driven by Brian O’Grady (the father of Stuart O’Grady). The motorbike clipped Rogers soon after passing the summit of Mengler’s Hill for the first time with 76km to go.

Discovering his rear wheel and derailleur was shattered, he then continued on a borrowed spectator’s bike. Owned by Melbourne club cyclist Adam Pyke, on holidays with his wife Fiona to watch the race, the bike was the same brand and had the same dimensions and pedals. It was an 18-month old black Colnago C40. The frame size was 56cm and the pedals were new Shimano SPD-R pedals.

Incredibly, after joining the lead group of 15 riders that formed on Mengler’s Hill, Rogers rode on that bike all the way to the finish, having only to re-adjust the seat.

"We were going up the climb, I swung over to get around the back. Then one of the motor bikes wasn’t watching where he was going," said Rogers.

"I got caught up in his front wheel and that just ripped my bike to pieces. I just happened to be lucky there was a guy not that far up the road who pretty much had the same bike.

"I jumped on that and because of that I have probably won the tour."

Pyke, a fitter and turner who races B-grade with the Chelsea Peninsula Cycling Club in Melbourne, said he didn’t hesitate in helping Rogers.

"We were parked one kilometer after the KOM. We saw the first group come through," said Pyke.

"Then Michael clipped the motorbike, or it clipped him. It depends on which one (party) you talk to.

"There was no team car for him. I knew my bike was compatible with his. I have followed his career and knew what (bike) he has."

Meanwhile, as Rogers chased, overnight race leader Italian Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) was seeing his spell in the yellow jersey come closer to its end with every pedal stroke.

Sacchi, who started the day with a one-second lead on Rogers, missed the split and was in the second group that also included O’Grady.

That group slimmed to 16 riders under the impulse of a chase by O’Grady. For Sacchi that effort by the defending champion was too much - he was soon three minutes down.

Meanwhile, the lead group had an advantage of 1:05 and had dropped in numbers to eight: Botcharov, Evans, Rogers, Jonker, Kai Hundertmarck (Telekom), Danielle Nardello (Mapei), Luca Paolini (Mapei), and Kurt Van de Wouwer (Lotto).

Rogers was in flying form. And he didn’t hide his intent. Instead, he exposed it by winning the next intermediate sprint at Angaston at 92.1km.

By the time they reached the foot of Mengler’s Hill for the second time at 124km, the lead group had a lead of 1:45.

The raced exploded again on the climb. Evans led them over the KOM line. In his wake, the lead group dropped to five riders. Evans, Nardello, Rogers, Botcharov and Jonker

By the time they descended for the finish line at Tanunda, Rogers was virtually assured of taking the yellow jersey. All that waited was see who would win the stage.

For Rogers he is also virtually assured of keeping it for good in tomorrow’s last stage – a 90km circuit race in Adelaide. Barring any accident that is …