It hasn’t been an easy winter-break for Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Sharp, as the sprinter found himself at the very bottom of the list of riders to have their contracts extended with American World Tour team. Differently than in case of many riders forced to prematurely hang up their wheels after they failed to deliver satisfying results last season, as the folding of Euskaltel and Vacansoleil had significantly limited a number of free spots in World Tour and Pro Continental outfits’ rosters, Farrar eventually has been offered a one-year deal. It is in his greatest interest, however, to prove that Garmin was right to let his continue under their banner and the American sprinter follows a busy schedule for first part of the 2014 season in order to provide his squad with desired victories.

Certainly some glimpse of promise has to be delivered in order to stay in the ranks of Garmin, as the visibly rejuvenated squad approaches different kind of races with new aspirations and slowly reconstructs their roster while attracting promising future stars of bike racing in the likes of Rohan Dennis, Lachlan Morton or Lasse Norman Hansen. In the interview for Cyclingnews, staying in the same squad for seventh consecutive season Farrar confirmed that the team have undergone very significant transitions.

“We have a pretty new team this year, a lot of young guys.”

"I think we have a good team and a lot of young guys," said Farrar.

"It's fun and brings energy to the team. It's fun doing races with those guys because they're seeing it all for the first time."

In the same time former foundations of the American squad, Christian Vande Velde, David Zabriskie or David Millar bid farewell as Dan Martin and Andrew Talansky are ready to take over responsibilities to lead the squad in the major events of the calendar, so it comes as no big surprise that there was a huge degree of uncertainty whether Farrar would have his contract extended after a rather disappointing 2013 season.

The 29-year old sprinter eventually managed to save his professional career without leaving Garmin’s ranks, presumably with his slightly improved performances in the last months of 2013 which saw him being in the mix again more often and provided the team with his second victory of the season, after one stage won at the Amgen Tour of California, at the Tour de l’Eurometropole where he also finished runner-up in the points classification.

Farrar managed to take a significant number of top five results in stage races last season, but for the sprinter it is always the number of victories what counts when the year comes to its conclusion and the 29-year old American hugely disappointed on that ground with only two victories compared to at least five for four consecutive seasons since 2009.

The American rider is certainly aware that thinks have to turn out differently this time around and as he claims in an interview for Cyclingnews, optimistically looks into the future after undergoing a solid preparation period during last winter break.

“Results are always important for a cyclists, that’s what makes us or breaks us.”

“I’ve got a good winter, I’ve trained well, I’m healthy. Right now I’m just enjoying racing my bike and I’m sure that results are gonna come in next few months,” Farrar presented rather laid back approach to challenges he faces in 2014.

Asked about Garmin-Sharp’s main objectives for 2014 Farrar confirmed that the expectations are high as they aim to improve their results in the one-day races with the classics unit recently reinforced by the arrival of Sebastian Langeveld, as well as increase their impact on the grand tours’ general classification with the likes of Ryder Hesjedal.

“We have a big plans. The classics are important to us, we brought on Langeveld, we have Johan [Vansummeren] still and Nick Nuyens.”

“Then grand tours, obviously GC with growing contention of our team. Ryder of course is one of the big guys of our team having won the Giro a couple of years ago,” Farrar confirmed diverse objectives of Garmin-Sharp for 2014 season.

Farrar’s racing schedule for the first part of the 2014 season is very well defined with an impressive number of classics divided with a participation in the Paris-Nice starting this weekend and concluded with his return to the Giro d’Italia after a one-year hiatus.

“All the classics. Omloop, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, then Paris-Nice, Harelbeke, Gent-Wavelgem, Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Then I’ll go for a break, and then the Giro,” Garmin-Sharp sprinter confirmed his schedule for Cyclingnews.

“I’m pretty excited to go to the Giro after a year off, and then after that we will see.”

It is still to be confirmed whether Farrar will participate in the races on the US soil, depending on his earlier performances.