Joaquim Rodriguez has painfully long history of wrecking his chances to win grand tour events, what makes the final outcome far less surprising than circumstances in which the Katusha leader pulled out of contention, and out of the race as well, during this year’s edition of the Giro d’Italia. While both the rider and Russian squad’s manager Viatcheslav Ekimov agreed that new objectives for the remaining of the 2014 season are yet to be determined and will strongly depend on Rodriguez’ recovery, the latter suggested that participation in the Vuelta a Espana remains the most probable option.

Like most of the Giro d’Italia general classification contenders, Rodriguez hit the deck in the dramatic finale at the bottom of Montecassino climb on Thursday, but even though the 34-year old Catalan managed to finish the stage, injuries sustained in that crash and in Ardennes classic earlier this season forced him to abandon the race.

Even though the Katusha manager revealed that for now they aim to keep all possibilities open, Vuelta a Espana seems to be more probable goal for Rodriguez, still dreaming of winning his first three-week event. And obviously convinced that he truly deserves it.

“The Vuelta was, and is, the next big goal for Rodríguez,” Katusha manager Viatcheslav Ekimov told VeloNews. “In light of the recent situation, his participation in the Tour cannot be excluded. Everything will depend on his recovery.”

While Ekimov pondered on various possibilities, the Katusha leader once again insisted that it’s too early to make any speculations about his objectives for the remaining of the 2014 season.

“There’s nothing more you can do than to accept what happened, and keep looking forward, and focus on what remains of the season,” said Rodríguez. “I am not going to start any race unless I am 100 percent. It’s not the right moment to talk about the Tour. … To speak now about the Tour or any other race is pure speculation.”

With Rodriguez, Angel Vicioso and Giampaolo Caruso all out of the competition following Thursday’s stage, Katusha were forced to reconsider their priorities for the Giro from high GC ambitions to stage hunting, with Daniel Moreno carrying the torch for the Russian squad.

“I didn’t know the finale was so hard. I really wanted to win, and the victory was in my plans the whole time, but I have to admit I went too early,” Moreno said Saturday. “We were taking a long time to catch Arredondo and Rolland, but the final climb was very hard, and the finale was too much for me.”