Tyler Farrar: An American Sprinter!

“I’m Tyler Farrar, Sprinter of Team Garmin-Transitions. During the race, I need perfect vision. I need to protect my eyes from changing light and UV rays, and I need this everyday. That’s why I wear Transitions adaptive lenses. Clear indoors, they automatically adapt to changing light. Transitions. Always the right protection for your eyes.”

Tyler you had us at “perfect vision,” even if you sounded a bit like cyborg from 1984 during your most lauded commercial for Transition Lenses. One thing we know about pro cycling is that Tyler is the American sprinter and unlike American time-trialists, they do not grow on trees. Heroes understand this and we try not to forget it, even when he comes up short more times than not against Mark “Honey Badger” Cavendish. It matters not, because when all is said and done Tyler is the best American sprinter to come along for a long long time. After a decade of watching George Hincapie fight for Flanders and Roubaix we believe Tyler will be the first American to stand on the top step of the podium at a Monument.

Our view of the World Championship is that he can win it. We are disappointed that none of the veterans of American cycling (Hincapie and Vande Velde etc.) wanted to make the flight to Denmark. We think Farrar et al. could have used their guidance and of course their legs as both looked strong in Colorado. Their mentorship will have to be confined to tweeting and screaming at the TV.

The US Road team is young: Brent Bookwalter ( Age 27); Matthew Busche(Age 26); Timmy Duggan (Age 28); Tyler Farrar (Age 27); Benjamin King (Age 22); Jeff Louder (Age 33); Taylor Phinney (Age 21); and Andrew Talansky (Age 22). Being fans and Heroes, we hope they crush it in the rag tag and youthful way like Team 7-11 did in the 80’s. It would be an appropriate way to take the baton from the older generation.

One thing we learned in our life is that smiles and joy, do not grow on trees. It is clear Tyler is capable accessing both in the midst pain and disappointment. During the Spring Classics, the Heroes were front and center during his post-race interviews and we got a good look at the man close-up. One moment in particular was telling. At the Scheldeprijs, after sliding his body across the tarmac while trying to defend his 2010 victory, he managed a smile and a few grins when conducting the Q&A with the assembled journalists outside the team bus. It was impressive as his jersey was in taters and blood was dripping from his elbow. He could have walked in the bus and no one would have blamed him. He did not. Good luck Tyler!