Richie Porte has lamented last month's race-ending Tour de France crash as possibly the biggest blow to his stellar cycling career.
The Australian star is now focused on riding the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) later this month and building his form towards a tilt at next month's world road race championship.
At 33, Porte is also conscious that time is running out for him as a contender in the three-week Grand Tours - the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta - but he remains optimistic.
Porte suffered a busted collarbone when he crashed early in stage nine of last month's Tour.
He had enjoyed strong pre-race form and once again was one of the title favourites.
It is his third major race crash in as many years, having also suffered a shoulder injury near the end of the Rio Olympics road race and then surviving his horrifying high-speed accident in stage nine of last year's Tour de France.
While Porte's collarbone fracture is minor compared to last year's wounds, this one has hurt his morale more.
"The disappointment from a professional point of view was absolutely terrible," he said.
"I was in a pretty dark place for quite a while after and it's still a hard one to take.
"It's probably the hardest, most disappointing one for me to take so far in my career."
Porte has been back on the bike for 10 days and his first step is the Vuelta, from August 25.
Injuries have meant he has not finished a grand tour in two years and that is his initial goal.
But the worlds at the end of next month in Austria feature hilly terrain that is tailor-made for Porte.
Two days after he crashed out of the Tour, Australian cycling team coordinator Brad McGee was in touch to discuss the world championships.
"It was good for me to have that little bit of motivation in the back of my mind," he said.
"It's a great silver lining - go to the Vuelta and prepare for a once-in-a career worlds.
"They don't come around like this too often."
Porte also remains upbeat about returning to the Tour de France next year, noting Cadel Evans was 34 when he won the 2011 title.
"Definitely that window of opportunity is closing - I have a proper good go at it next year," he said.
Porte still cannot comment on speculation that he is about to switch teams, from BMC to Trek-Segafredo.
He is also unsure whether he will start next year racing in Australia.
Adelaide's Tour Down Under is his favourite race and he has won the decisive Willunga stage for the last five years.
In a major change to the race schedule, the Willunga stage will end next January's 21st edition.
"Big hats off to them for doing that," he added.
