Wenatchee cyclist has shot at riding in Tour de France

At age 8, Tyler Farrar happened upon his dream. He was in France with his parents, visiting his aunt, when the family decided to capitalize on a foretelling coincidence.

The Farrars had arrived during the Tour de France. So, for two weeks, they followed the great race. Young Tyler stared at all the colorful uniforms and spectacular bicycles. Mechanics allowed him onto the backs of their trucks, and he marveled at the equipment. The experience nestled into his memory.

His fascination with cycling began that summer. Now, 15 years later, Tyler Farrar awaits a possible Tour return, this time as a competitor.

Farrar's Colorado-based team, Slipstream-Chipotle, recently became one of 20 invited to this year's Tour. Slipstream-Chipotle must now choose nine of its 25 riders to compete in the race, which begins July 5.

Farrar, the skinny kid from Wenatchee who used to climb the hill leading to his parents' home, will learn next month whether he gets to race in the Tour. Another Washington resident, North Bend native Tom Peterson, is also vying for one of Slipstream-Chipotle's spots. If either is selected, he will become the first Washington-bred cyclist in the Tour de France.

"I'm excited just to be considered," Farrar said. "That's the big goal, to ride the Tour. But it's up for the team to decide. Really, it depends on who's riding well the month leading up to the race and who's healthy. I'm going to prepare like I'll be there."

Farrar is having a strong season thus far, with a victory in the Tour of Bahamas and good performances in the Tour of California (he held the leader's jersey for one stage) and Tour de Georgia. The 23-year-old is known for his fast finishing speed and is considered one of the top young American cyclists.

To understand Farrar's hard-pedaling lifestyle, listen to his Wenatchee High School graduation story. He only attended the ceremony because he broke his wrist. Until then, Farrar was scheduled to compete in France on graduation day, and he wasn't disappointed about missing graduation.

"We hadn't even gotten a cap and gown for him," said his mother, Cindy Farrar. "After he got hurt, I had to borrow a cap and gown from friends."

As with all cyclists, injuries have complicated his career. Beyond the wrist problems, he's suffered a bad kneecap injury, though it only kept him off his bike for a month, and he's broken his collarbone five times. He now has a metal plate supporting that bone.

And all these calamities come from the son of an orthopedic surgeon. Ed Farrar has never operated on his child, but the free medical advice has been handy.

Tyler lives in Belgium most of the year. His longtime girlfriend, Stephanie Wade, moved there to be with him, but they only see each other in spurts because Tyler travels throughout Europe to compete.

His life has been a blur since he was 14. That's when Farrar committed himself fully to cycling. He was potentially a world-class nordic skier, but when asked to choose between skiing and cycling, he chose the bike without hesitation.

"He's a sweet and loyal person," said Wade, who has dated Farrar since high school. "When he's competing, he's always willing to sell himself out for whoever on his team has the best legs that day."

This is the prime cycling season, but Farrar slipped away to attend the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival earlier this month. He served as one of the parade's grand marshals with Laura Valaas, a Wenatchee native who is a member of the U.S. cross country ski team.

"It was an honor," Farrar said. "I was glad I could make it."

Farrar remembers honing his skills riding through Wenatchee. Then he became entranced with the entire state's cycling scene. Farrar considers Washington a solid "regional racing scene."

"I think it's good," he said. "But the reality is that, to be a pro, you have to branch out."

So he turned pro nearly six years ago. His success, along with Peterson's, has enhanced the profile of a state full of cycling enthusiasts.

As a child, Farrar struggled to find cycling magazines. Over the past decade, interest in the sport has grown in the United States, especially since Lance Armstrong's incredible run.

Still, Farrar is only a star in Europe, where rabid cycling fans reside.

"In Belgium, they're crazy," Farrar said. "They have pictures of me from when I was in junior races, and seven years later, they're bringing these pictures up for me to sign. It's nice. To have that kind of support is fantastic."

It doesn't beat being a grand marshal for the Apple Blossom Festival, but it's nice. It's the kind of life Farrar has craved for years. And if everything works in his favor, he will be a part of cycling's grandest stage soon.

He knows the route to this dream. He's been there before.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com