For cycling fans, "le Tour", the biggest annual sporting event, is about to start.  And for students of leadership, there's an interesting series of articles in my local paper on the Australians in the tour.  Today it was on Michael Rogers and his chances for this year's event.

For leadership watchers, it will be very ineteresting to see how he goes.  His cycling abilityt is undoubted.  However, it's his leadership that will make or break his chances.

As the article stated:  "Rogers is excited. He is hungry to produce his best. He knows he has the attributes to race well - he can time-trial and climb. He also has a steady, calm nature to handle the pressure moments that often break others. But deep down, he knows something is missing.

That something is the respect of his teammates, who will be expected to race flat out to help his chances. Without teammates, no rider wins a tour - let alone ''le Tour''. The 30-year-old from Canberra also knows such unconditional loyalty is not given but earned." 

Cycling as a team leader in an event such as this - they compete for 21 days over 3,000 odd kms - is a real test of leadership.

In terms of trust and respect - two essential qualities for leaders - Rogers had this to say, ''It was something I had to earn back,'' Rogers told the Herald. ''When you ask the guys to sacrifice their own performance for the leader, a whole lot of work goes on around that. Like in any relationship, there is a need to be trusted. That is something I've spent a lot of time doing ... getting the respect of the guys so they know that when I am there to show - and I have showed this year that I am serious - that if they stand behind me I can win or perform.''

Watch the Tour and stayed tune for leadership results.