Tony Gallopin plans to return to the spring classics and a more traditional race program in 2020 after what he said was the worst season of his career.

The Frenchman, who won a stage win and the yellow jersey at the 2014 Tour de France, continued the underwhelming theme of 2018 with several crashes this year.

He signed a two-year contract extension with AG2R La Mondiale, but his first two years with the French team have not been smooth.

"It was my worst season as a professional," Gallopin told Cycling News at AG2R La Mondiale's preseason get-together in the French Alps last week. [For me, that's a problem because I'm on the bike to win races. There were a lot of crashes and bad luck. It was complicated.

Gallopin overcame a string of crashes and injuries in 2018 to win a stage and finish 11th overall at the Vuelta a España, but there was no turnaround or stagnation this year.

He abandoned Paris-Nice on the last day and injured his shoulder at the Volta a Catalunya. In the Giro d'Italia, an important target, he injured his knee and was forced to leave the race on stage 16.

After regaining his form for the Tour de France, he suffered a serious fall at the French championships and competed in the Grand Boucle for the second year in a row while suffering from injuries. Crashes and punctures continued throughout the race, and he was even stopped by an umbrella.

"At that point, you have to laugh," Gallopin admitted.

"I don't know why it happened. For the last two years I was crashing every other race. It's been a spiral."

"It's frustrating. It's frustrating because it takes a lot of effort to get top form, and the moment you do that, you crash. Of course, sometimes it's difficult. But what can we do?' I think all athletes go through these times. You just have to do something about it.'

Gallopin hopes his luck will improve in the new year, but he is also making changes to his race program. This time last year, many questioned his decision to abandon the Classics to focus on stage racing, but he now intends to click "cancel."

"Last year I tried something new with Catalunya and the Giro, but I didn't enjoy Catalunya and the Giro was complicated.

"Next year I'm going back to a more traditional calendar with the Paris-Nice followed by the Classics.

Gallopin will compete in Milan-San Remo, E3-Harelbeke, and Tour de Flanders in the spring, with several other races on the schedule. Oliver Naessen, the team's Classical leader, speaks highly of Gallopin on the cobbles and regrets his absence last year.

"I'm not worried about running the classics, and Ollie is a good leader, so I'm happy to be back with him," Gallopin said.

"Ollie's a good leader, so I'm happy to be back with him. Ollie is a good leader, so I'm glad to be back with him."

Gallopin will start quietly until he comes into his own in Paris-Nice. After the Classics, he will focus on the Tour de France after the Criterium du Dauphiné and the national championships. At the Tour, he will have more freedom in the absence of team leader Romain Bardet, who is aiming for the Giro.

"Wherever he goes, I have one burning ambition: to win the race.

"For me, cycling is about winning races. I haven't had many races that I didn't win.