Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) must have been a true inspiration for Tyler Farrar when he slammed handlebars of his bike after winning the bunch sprint in the Dwars door Vlaanderen yesterday.. 17 second behind unattainable on that day Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), and closely repeating the gesture that Swiss classics specialist performed on a similar occasion in the Milano-Sanremo last Sunday.

Farrar indeed had an opportunity to study Cancellara’s behavior from an optimal angle on TV, as the Garmin Sharp rider, not without regrets, decided to skip the sprinters-friendly edition of La Primavera in order to enter targeted this season cobbled classics in a perfect disposition. He admitten, however, that final shape of its route without Le Manie and new Pompeiana climb was very tempting.

"Certainly, the temptation was there but at the same time I knew today was one of the best of the races for me in the next three weeks," he said.

"It wasn’t an easy decision and I didn't really want to watch the race last Sunday but now I'm happy I did it like that."

After a podium ceremony in Waregem came to an end, champagne-soaked Farrar admitted that the recently concluded event left him with a bittersweet taste in his mouth. American sprinter hugely regretted that the leading group lacked cohesiveness to organize a proper chase and catch Terpstra before the finish line, mainly due to prolonged hesitation of main contenders when the 29-year old Dutchman took off.

While Terpstra claimed his second Dwars door Vlaanderen victory yesterday after winning Flemish semi-classic in 1012, same time it was a second near miss for Farrar in that event.

"It's always something special to be on the podium in the classics and it's really not a bad result but at the same time I'm a bit heartbroken," Farrar said, who pointed out that it was his second near miss at Dwars door Vlaanderen after he finished third behind Nick Nuyens in 2011.

"Three years ago we just caught them in the sprint and I was third. This time I was second, and again the winner was just in front of me. It's hard but at the same time it’s a nice result for me."

"It's hard to get things organised at the end of a race like this," Farrar said. "Everyone’s in the red after all the climbs, but we got our guys together and chased hard, but unfortunately, Niki was just a bit too strong and he stayed away."

It was certainly a big shame for the Garmin Sharp rider that Terpstra hasn’t been caught since American sprinter appeared to be the strongest fast finisher when the fifty-riders peloton crossed the finish line. However, on the positive note yesterday’s performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen may herald a return of Farrar after his disastrous 2013 season – highly expected considering the fact that his current contract with Garmin Sharp expires with the end of this year.

"I really suffered last spring because I'm not really a rider for the extreme cold so last year was not so nice for me," Farrar said. "This year is a little better. I've really been focused this winter and really put everything on the Flemish classics. I even skipped Milan-San Remo just to focus for this and I think it’s working."

Farrar admitted that heartbreaking decision to skip Milano-Sanremo turns out to be a right one and finally, after struggling to find good legs for many months, he was absolutely satisfied with his disposition.

"I was in the front group, I really had super legs today," Farrar said. "On the descent of the Paterberg, we caught what was left of the breakaway. I was right there. At first I thought this was really perfect, a small group, but then everything came back with 50 or 60 riders."

With a confidence significantly boosted by his not perfectly satisfying, but certainly promising performance in the Dwars door Vlaanderen, Farrar switches focus to his big target of spring season – Gent-Wavelgem in the coming Sunday.  

"Three years ago when I was third here I was also third in Gent-Wevelgem, so hopefully I can do something good on Sunday," he said. "The weather is looking good for the weekend, and that suits a rider like me because a sprint is more likely in those conditions."

After intense emotions eventually sank in, Farrar wasn’t entirely disappointed with the result obtained yesterday..

"Of course I would prefer to win but you have to enjoy second place in a classic too," he said, adding: “It’s a little bit of all the emotions at the moment."