The Vuelta a Espana is a "realistic goal" for Richie Porte as the luckless Australian comes to terms with the agony of crashing out of the Tour de France for the second year running.
The BMC Racing rider was in tears on the roadside after suffering a fractured collarbone in a stage-nine crash on Sunday, dashing his hopes of dethroning Chris Froome.
Porte's Tour was also cut short on stage nine 12 months ago and the 33-year-old spoke of his devastation at suffering another cruel blow.
Yet Porte feels he can get himself back to full fitness for the start of the Vuelta next month.
He said in a video posted on his team's twitter account: "I'm obviously disappointed. Not the way we wanted to end, the same as last year. It's painful physically and mentally.
"The good thing is that I haven't done anything to my legs, so I'll be able to get on the bike within the next week and turn the legs over on the home trainer.
"I think the Vuelta is a realistic goal and also the World Championships. It's nice to be motivated to still race, obviously it's so disappointing [to have] my arm in a purple sling but there are some nice races to finish up the season."
The 2018 Vuelta will begin on August 25 with an individual time trial in Malaga.
