Three-time time trial world champion Michael Rogers will take on a new role as innovation manager at the UCI, cycling's world governing body, it was announced at the Virtual UCI Congress on Thursday.

Rogers retired as a rider in early 2016 and has worked with teams such as Mapei, T-Mobile, HTC Colombia, Team Sky, and Tinkoff-Saxo, winning time trial world titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and in 2014 Tour de France stage win and two stage wins at the Giro d'Italia, the Tour Down Under title in 2002, and the overall win at the Tour of California in 2010.

He has competed in the Tour 11 times, finishing ninth overall in 2006 and four times in the Giro, finishing sixth overall in 2009, a career best.

Rogers is working this season as Technical Partner Manager for NTT Pro Cycling and was previously the founder and CEO of VirtuGO, a virtual world training platform, which closed in November 2019.

However, while the future of the NTT Pro Cycling team is in jeopardy, the UCI reports that Rogers' new role will involve managing new innovations within the sport, including data during athlete races, cycling event technology, and esports development

"The UCI is also looking into the possibility of developing a new technology for the sport.

"As cycling continues to modernize and to ensure our sport's place at the forefront of the sporting world, UCI Congress welcomes the Federation's appointment of Michael Rogers," the press release stated, adding that the 40-year-old Rogers will join the UCI Sport Division and will join it on November 15.