In 2016, Tyler Farrar will complete his transformation from an outright sprinter at MTN-Qhubeka to a Classics rider and a key part of Mark Cavendish’s leadout train for the 2016 incarnation of the team, Team Dimension Data. The 31-year-old American recently spoke to CyclingQuotes about 2015 and becoming part of the train for Cavendish.

Despite not winning a race this year, Farrar came close on a few occasions and took some strong results in his first year with the team. This has allowed him to have a really good and enjoyable first year with Africa’s only pro cycling team.

“I would say 2015 was a blast. I really enjoyed my transition to MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung. The atmosphere is fantastic on this team and I really enjoyed racing my bike this year.”

Farrar’s most memorable 2015 moment came at the Worlds in Richmond, Virginia, where he was riding in front of a devoted USA crowd and he stuck in a bold attack that was caught just 6km from home. He spoke about the reasoning behind the attack and what it felt like to be off the front in a home Worlds.

“Riding on the attack at worlds in front of the home crowd was incredible. It was deafening with all the fans on the course, I had goose bumps! I figured I was going to have a hard time staying with the best guys the final lap up Libby Hill, so if I could get away and not get caught until after the climb I thought I had a good shot. Unfortunately they caught us at the foot of the climb and it was game over.”

Farrar admitted that 2016 would be a season of change for the team, as they move from plucky underdog’s to being forced into doing lots of work on stages that may result in a bunch sprint, thanks to Cavendish’s presence. Farrar himself will form part of the Brit’s train and says the team has a really strong leadout which can deliver the 2011 World Champion to lots of wins in big races.

“I think 2016 is going to see some big changes for us. Mark is obviously one of, if not the greatest sprinters of all time. I am really looking forward to being a part of his train. I think we have the riders to put together one of the best leadouts in the world.”

But Farrar and Cavendish haven’t always been keen to ride together and Farrar admits that for the first few races they do together, it will be weird calling him a teammate. While Cavendish, who is known as a tricky character, and Farrar don’t have a problem with each other in the way Cavendish has been known to have with several other sprinters and leadout men in the past, the two competed at the top for a long time, with Farrar beating Cavendish to win stages in the 2011 Tour and 2010 Vuelta, as well as beating him to take his first big win back on stage three of the 2009 Tirreno-Adriatico. Cavendish has also beaten Farrar in plenty of big races.

“After so many years racing against each other, I am sure the first few races will be a bit weird. We have always gotten along well as competitors, so I don't see any issues gelling as teammates though. It will take us a few races to feel each other out, but that's how it is every year in cycling. Rosters are fluid.”

Turning towards individual success, Farrar says he will mostly ride as a support rider in the 2016 season, but he says that if he is given any opportunities by the team, especially in the Cobbled Classics, he would love to take them.

“I foresee myself being mostly a support rider for Mark in the sprints and Edvald in the classics next season. But given the opportunity I would love to take a crack at the cobbled classics again.”