American Carter Jones was robbed of starting the Vuelta a Espana when he broke his collarbone in a collision with a car in July. The Giant-Alpecin climber may have been the extra pair of legs Tom Dumoulin needed to win the Vuelta. Now the 26 year old wants to sett he record straight and start a three-week race in 2016.

“For me next year the biggest goal is finishing a Grand Tour. That's something I really need to do. I don't really want to do but it's something I need to do as a rider. I want to get that first one out of the way. It's still kind of up in the air. It depends on how I'm riding and what the goals are at what race. But I'm assuming that if I get the opportunity it will be at the Giro or the Vuelta. I was slated for the Vuelta this year, but I was hit by a car and broke my collarbone,” Jones told Cyclingnews.

Jones spoke of the difficulties he has faced adjusting to racing in Europe as a WolrdTour rider, both on and off the bike, in 2015.

“I'd say that the two things were that the transition to living in Europe was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Everything is a little bit more stressful. Everything takes one extra step. So you have a problem, and you say, 'Hey, this broke. I need a plumber. How do I find a plumber?' Or I need to buy sheets, so I'd go to Target or whatever sheets store. But here, it's like who do I ask who knows what store to buy sheets at. Those things do add up, especially your first time over here. Now we have an apartment set up, so that should be taken away. I would say in the races, the depth of the field is really, really amazing. Like in California, you go hard, there's a selection made and there's 10 guys. In a WorldTour race it's just as hard, but maybe a little bit harder but not too much. But there's 60 guys, 80 guys. It's really eye opening. There are so many guys at such a high level. Then you start talking to people, like finding out about your teammates' backgrounds, and it's like every single rider was a national champion or a U23 world champion, the absolute best of their age group. It's pretty jaw dropping when you start to realise everyone is so, so good.”