With MTN Qhubeka team, Tyler Farrar will be back at the Tour de France this July. The American rider is set to return to the race for the first time since 2012. Ahead of stage 5 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, he told about his role in the African team according to Cyclingnews.

"This is our final pre-Tour de France tune up and everyone seems to be riding pretty well. I’m on track and I’m here to give Eddy Boasson Hagen a hand", he said. "That’s gone well but for me this race is mostly boot camp so I can suffer my way into top shape. I’m excited about the Tour. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there and it’s cool to be part of this team and their whole story."

Norwegian Edvald Bassoon Hagen will lead the team in the majority of the sprints. So, Farrar will do his best to help his teammate. "There’s been quite a progression in field sprinting over the last few years. It’s a pretty amazing generation of sprinters at this point. I think that my role is mostly about trying to help Edvald. I may get a shot at a few stages but I’ll be there to play any role that the team needs me for – whether it’s sprinting, leading out or on the cobbles."

"I still have my moments in the year where I think that I can sprint at the top level but it’s here and there. I have a lot of experience but the goal is that the team needs to win. You have to ride for the fastest guy and maximise your chances. It’s a bit of a transition for me but I like it."

In 2011, Farrar won his one and only Tour de France stage.