How does a kid who grew up in the Apple Capital of the world end up riding in the Tour de France with some of the greatest cyclists in world? Wenatchee’s Tyler Farrar, the 25-year-old sprinter who has been making headlines around the world, makes it look easy.
Farrar (pronounced “Farrah”), who now calls Gent, Belgium home, has been a professional racer since 2003 but he caught the attention of local cyclists well before that. He started racing bikes at age 12, and was hooked from then on.
“I always loved the Mason Lake Series,” says Farrar. “I loved racing so much and it was the first chance to get out there.”
 By the time he was 15, Farrar was telling anyone who would listen that he intended to be a professional cyclist. Luckily, his parents were supportive and played a big part in his success, taking him all over the Northwest to compete. At age 18, Farrar was chosen for the U.S. National Team and was on his way to making his dream of being a pro cyclist a reality. Farrar signed with the Jelly Belly professional racing team in 2003 while still riding with the U.S. National Team, and went on to ride for Health Net and Cofidis, racking up impressive wins and experience along the way. But it was his strong finish in the Giro d’Italia, his stage win in the Vuelta a España and his performance in the 2009 Tour de France on Team Garmin-Slipstream (now Garmin-Transitions Optics) that brought new attention.
The first Washington State native to compete in the Tour de France, Farrar finished in the top three in five stages, just one highlight of a season that entailed 99 days of racing.
“One thing I think a lot of people don’t realize is how many days we race during the year,” says Farrar. “A lot of times we’re just going race to race.”
Though Farrar now lives and races in Europe, his family remains in the Northwest and he returns to his old cycling grounds every year.
“Growing up in Wenatchee was great — there’s tons of riding in that area,” says Farrar, who counts the Wenatchee Omnium among his favorite races. However, at season’s end in the fall, he gives himself a solid break from time in the saddle.
“I try to ride the bike as little as possible and go do other things for exercise,” he says. By early December he’s back on the bike, preparing for the next season.
“I put in lots of hours on the bike, a ton of time in the gym, and do a bit of cross-country skiing,” says Farrar, who was also a Nordic ski racer as a kid. “I love it when I can get out on the skis a little bit. It’s a nice break.”
Farrar has been fortunate to see a dramatic increase in cycling’s popularity in the U.S. as a professional sport, especially in the Northwest.
“I’ve been a pro now for seven years and even going back just seven years it has changed,” he says. “People I grew up with would look at me like I was crazy when I said I was a pro cyclist. People recognize it a lot more now. It gets a lot more mainstream notice.”
More mainstream attention may be what’s on the horizon for Farrar, too.
“Last year was, without question, a breakout season for me,” he says. “I am just hoping I can continue in the same vein for 2010.”
Fans can expect to see Farrar return to the Grand Tours, riding in the 75th anniversary of the Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia. And, of course, this year’s Tour de France. One notable addition to his race schedule this year is the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia at the end of September.
“From what I hear the course is pretty sprinter-friendly,” says Farrar, a fact that bodes well for the sprinter from Wenatchee.
Follow Tyler Farrar in 2010 as he takes on cycling’s Grand Tours — and the Road World Championships!
Giro d’Italia, May 8–30, www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2010/en
Tour de France, July 7–25, www.letour.fr
Vuelta a España, Aug. 28–Sept. 19, www.lavuelta.com
World Championships, Sept. 29–Oct. 3, www.melbourne2010.com.au
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