Farrar aims for Giro d'Italia

By Gregor Brown

Tyler Farrar is back on the road training after a crash in Milano-Sanremo two weeks ago. The American of Garmin-Slipstream separated his shoulder and had to miss the Northern Classics, but he is re-focused on the Giro d'Italia.

"I have a month or so to build up for it. It is pretty exciting to have a chance ride a Grand Tour," he said to Cyclingnews.

Farrar, 24, had the biggest win of his career this spring when he beat many top sprinters in Tirreno-Adriatico's stage two. He was prepared to support Julian Dean for Milano-Sanremo, Martijn Maaskant in Ronde van Vlaanderen and fight for his own victory in Gent-Wevelgem, but a crash at 100 kilometres into the Italian one-day race ruined his chances. He separated his right shoulder in the crash. It did not require surgery, but forced him to take time off the bike.

"It was not a particularly severe separation, it was just bad enough that I cannot be racing on cobblestones. I was on the rollers for a week, I saw the doctor yesterday [Monday - ed.] morning and he gave me the okay to go back out on the road."

Farrar is pleased with Maaskant's fourth place in Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen. He saw his form rise as the two were racing at Tirreno-Adriatico together. He hopes his Dutch teammate has a good ride in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix. Last year, Maaskant finished fourth behind winner Tom Boonen.

"I had really hoped to race Gent-Wevelgem; it was my major target for the spring. It will be frustrating to sit at home and watch the race on the couch.

"Favourite? If it comes to a sprint it is hard to pick anyone other than Mark Cavendish."

Team Garmin is favoured for the Giro d'Italia's opening 20.5-kilometre team time trial in Venice on May 9. It won the team time trial last year when the race started in Palermo.

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