Farrar departs Garmin, signs with MTN-Qhubeka

American Tyler Farrar has signed a deal to ride for MTN-Qhubeka after a seven-year stint with Garmin-Sharp.

The 30-year-old sprinter has won at least one stage in each of the three grand tours — including three at the Vuelta a Espana at the 2009 and 2010 races.

Farrar, according to an MTN press release, will ride for the South African-based squad next year.

“This is a big change for me in my cycling career after having spent 7 years with my current team,” Farrar said. “I feel it is the perfect timing for me to move on though and Team MTN-Qhubeka is definitely the team that appealed to me the most.”

Said team principal Doug Ryder: “Tyler Farrar is an incredible asset to Team MTN-Qhubeka, a stage winner in all 3 grand tours and prolific contender in the classics, his inclusion will help our team move forward and maintain our position in the upper echelons of World Cycling. Tyler is one of the most successful riders to come out of the United States of America. His inclusion helps globalize our team in support of developing cycling on the African continent through the Qhubeka foundation.”

Farrar, who turned professional in 2003 with Jelly Belly, then rode for Health Net-Maxxis and Cofidis before joining the Slipstream franchise in 2008. He has several stage victories and one-day race wins to his name, including the Vattenfall Cyclassics (2009, 2010) and Scheldeprijs (2010).

This season, Farrar finished second in both Dwars door Vlaanderen and Scheldeprijs. He rode in the Giro d’Italia but did not win a stage.

“The team is building a strong group of riders that will win races next year and I look forward to being a part of that, as both a winner and support rider,” Farrar said.