Wenatchee native is world-class cyclist

SEATTLE - The Wall Street Journal called him the fastest American in France. Tyler Farrar is a member of Team Garmin-Slipstream, America’s top professional cycling team. This summer, he became the first Washington native to ever compete in the Tour de France, where he finished in the top three in five stages.

“I think the last day when you come into Paris is certainly something special,” Farrar said at a “meet and greet” at Cycle University in West Seattle. “The relief, 'You know you made it.' And there are so many people there. Every tour has a different route but the last day's always the same, it's Paris. And that has a lot of history.”

Farrar is only 25, but he’s already a seven-year veteran on the professional cycling scene. His specialty is sprinting. Farrar, who lives and trains in Belgium, is taking a month off for the holidays and loves promoting the sport.

“He IS a big deal!” exclaimed Pauline Cheung, who came to get Farrar’s autograph on racing photos she’d printed from the Garmin team web site. “He’s world class and he was in the Tour de France, the toughest race in the world.”

Her fellow cyclist Kevin Zhu agreed. “It’s good to see a local person compete at that level. It’s an inspiration to the rest of us.”

Local cyclists say it says a lot that they take spin classes at "Cycle University", a former car dealership. They believe Seattle is definitely becoming a cycling city, with more bike trails and a growing number of bike commuters, like the newly elected mayor. So it's no surprise, they say, that the cycling community can produce a champion like Farrar.

Cycle University’s self-described Dean, Craig Undem, observed more people are following the sport.

“The sport itself is becoming that mature where we have superstars like Tyler, Lance Armstrong, you know people that Americans recognize as cyclists," he said.

Is Tyler Farrar the next Lance Armstrong?

“I don’t know if anyone’s going to be the next Lance Armstrong,” he laughs. “He’s done something pretty special. But I hope I continue to have success.”

Farrar admits professional cyclists are really big in Europe.

“There are a lot of cycling fans over there (Europe) so when you go to the races, there's a lot of people out to watch, it's a lot of fun.”

You mean, with women throwing their underwear at you?

“No, I’m not quite that big!” he laughs.

Tyler Farrar spoke at a fundraiser for the Cascade Bicycle Club at the Magnuson Park Theatre Wednesday night. It will benefit the Major Taylor Foundation’s Seattle Chapter. The organization provides underserved youth with bicycles and teaches cycling as sport.