Australian cycling star Richie Porte may cut his losses and look to the Tour de France after three disastrous days at the Giro d'Italia.
The Tasmanian said he was feeling the effects of the previous day's crash when he struggled through the stage-14 individual time trial on Saturday night (AEST).
It dashed whatever faint hopes he had left of a big overall finish in this year's race.
Porte admitted he could abandon the Giro so he can focus on July's Tour, where he is scheduled to support Sky leader and his good friend Chris Froome.
"In some ways it might make sense and get out of here and look forward to the Tour," Porte said.
"It's massively disappointing ... I don't think I did anything wrong, I've just been unlucky."
The Tasmanian is now nearly nine minutes off the pace in the overall standings, a devastating blow given he entered the three-week Giro hoping to contend for a podium finish at least.
Porte went into the Giro as Team Sky's designated team leader, the first time he had the role for a three-week Grand Tour.
Saturday was the third stage since last Tuesday where Porte has lost a big chunk of time.
It is a dramatic reversal of fortune after Porte had started this year with the best form of his career.
The Tasmanian could only manage 55th for the 59.2km time trial, a whopping four minutes 20 seconds down on Sky teammate and stage winner Vasil Kiryienka from Belarus.
Spaniard Alberto Contador finished third to regain the race lead, while Porte is now 17th overall at 8:52.
With less than 10km left in stage 10 last week, Porte was in an ideal position at third overall, just 22 seconds behind Contador.
But he punctured, costing him more than 40 seconds, and controversially was also penalised two minutes for accepting a wheel from Orica-GreenEDGE rider Simon Clarke.
He plummeted to 12th overall, more than three minutes off the pace.
The stage-14 time trial was a key moment for Porte and the hope was he could produce a storming ride that would propel him back into the top 10.
But he lost more time in a crash near the end of stage 13 and also hurt his knee and hip.
"I know where my form's at - I'm in a little bit of pain and I couldn't really push on the flat," he said after the time trial.
"I didn't really have it.
"It's bittersweet with Kiryienkya doing so well there.
"In 'recon', it was a time trial that I liked, it suited me.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen now - I'm in a fair amount of pain."
Porte added that, in theory, he could try to chase a stage win through the mountains in the last week of the Giro.
He said he would talk to team officials before making the call.
"The way my knee and hip felt today I'm just not sure," he said.
"I think it may be making up numbers to be honest."
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