Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee takes third in Amgen Tour of California prologue

Everything is going amazingly well. I did two hours on the road on Sunday with no problem and as usual the biggest problem is holding me back!

I have just built up slowly. I was out of the sling in days and now my only problem is that my bib short strap sits on the plate which is numb and has no feeling. But hey, if that’s the only fall out, then I’ll gladly take it!

The support from my team has been amazing, from the bosses, my team mates and just everyone involved. I’m looking forward to hanging out with them all in Girona and getting some miles in.

The 5280 Junior program’s oldest junior girl Danielle Haulman (17) took 10th overall this weekend in the Valley of the Sun stage race. ‘Dani’ competed against the Senior Women’s Cat 1-2 field (Pro women), snagging 9th in the opening time trial and holding top ten after the road race and criterium.

Said coach Erik Hultgren: “A good start to her first season with the team!!”

L.A. Times: Farrar consider top young American rider

The argyle armada has been working toward the opening prologue of the Tour of California for weeks with training sessions in Boulder, CO, Silver Springs, NM, and Girona, Spain. And Slipstream Sports Chairman Doug Ellis was very happy with what he witnessed yesterday.

“I’m extemely proud of the team’s performance today. By putting four in the top ten, they’ve positioned us beautifully for the week,” said Ellis.

The days results included six of the eight Slipstream riders finishing in the top 20. The high overall placings put Slipstream/Chipotle in second on the team GC, just two seconds off Team High Road.

The young Tyler Farrar took third overall - surprising many with his smooth, relaxed speed. “I don’t think anyone woke up today worried about how Tyler Farrar would do. That won’t happen again,” said Ellis.

Also performing well in front of his home crowd was Steven Cozza, who is from Petaluma. Finishing 10th overall, he is now third in the best young rider classification.

Slipstream/Chipotle H3O took four of the top ten places in today’s opening prologue of the Amgen Tour of California. And it was the newbie - Tyler Farrar - who surprised some, but not himself or his director, with his third place finish (see podium shot left).

“I knew I could do a good ride since this is a perfect course for me. But it isn’t over yet,” said Farrar shortly after he finished. “I am pretty nervous watching all the others finish.”

Having completed one of the rides of his life, Tyler Farrar had to stand by and wait until the remaining 55 riders came under the final Amgen banner before he knew just how good his performance was.

In the end, the 23-year old Farrar finished a very respectable third to the current world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara and current world pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins.

Jonathan Vaughters (pictured right) was also one who knew Farrar was a favorite for today’s fast course. “Farrar was just a beast. Risked everything in the corners, but came out alive,” he said. “He’s a real force for the future. Future meaning the next week!”

Official prologue results
1. Fabian Cancellara (CSC) - 3:51:21
2. Bradley Wiggins (High Road) - 3:55:98
3. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream) - 3:56:46
4. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) - 3:57:52
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road) - 3:58:89
6. Gustav Larsson (CSC) - 3: 59:19
7. David Zabriskie (Slipstream) - 3:59:58
8. Mark Cavendish (High Road) - 3:59:65
9. David Millar (Slipstream) - 3:59:78
10. Steven Cozza (Slipstream) - 4:00:12
12. Christian Vande Velde - 4:01
40. Dan Pate - 4:07
60. Tom Danielson - 4:11
62. Tom Peterson - 4:11

Battling headwinds, crosswinds, and general fatigue, Slipstream/Chipotle H3O managed to put Trent Lowe in position to improve his overall final classification but couldn’t move him up in the best young rider overall.

Lowe moved up from 13th to 12th in the overall classification but gained no time on two best young riders ahead of him in GC. Overall, the two directors Lionel Marie and Matt White were content with the team’s performance in such an early season stage race.

Final standings:
12 - Trent Lowe
40 - Timmy Duggan
54 - Danie Martin
56 - Ryder Hesjedal
62 - Pat McCarty
75 - Jason Donald
81 - Christophe Laurent
85 - Chris Sutton

Hot off overall, road and circuit race wins (not to mention his 3rd place in the time trial) at the Tour of the Bahamas, Tyler Farrar is as fired up as a 23-year-old gets for his big debut at one of America’s top events. And he hopes to make his first impression a good one.

“I’m psyched for the prologue today! I think the course is going to be blazing fast and all the boys are ready to come out swinging,” said Farrar after wrapping up his morning ride around Palo Alto. “Hopefully we can start the race off with a bang!”