Germany's John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) was no stranger to high-profile racing at this year's Vuelta a España, but the 30-year-old all-rounder fought through what has been called "the hardest Grand Tour of my career" with a clear goal in mind.

"It was a very tough Vuelta and I was tired," Degenkolb told Cycling News near the end of the race. "On stage three, I led out Eddy [Edward Zaunce] well and he came in second [behind Sam Bennett of Beulah Hansgrohe]. Other than that, I struggled a lot in the Vuelta this year. But we've tried every day and that's the best we can do."

Along with Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Degenkolb is one of the few out-and-out classic racers who chose the Vuelta as a build-up to the World Championships and Fall Classics. Spain was once a route frequented by one-day specialists, but in recent years the Grand Tour has been less visited by rainbow jersey contenders.

However, Degenkolb feels that the Vuelta is his goal for the fall and that the World Championships is his big target race; he finished ninth in the 2014 World Championships Ponferrada and fourth in the 2012 Valkenberg, and the hilly course of the World Championships has suited him in the past He points out.

However, despite having won big one-day races such as Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, and Hamburg Cyclassics, and finishing second in Ghent-Wevelgem this spring, Degenkolb is aware that if he is selected this time around, he will be in a support role in Yorkshire He recognizes that he will be a

"I can't say too much about the World Championships," he said. There are 12 riders on the long list, but only eight are going. [But of course I want to go. The course suits me and mentally I've suffered through the Vuelta."

"That's always been in the back of my mind. But I just don't have the results, and I can't have big ambitions like the leader. [But it's a long race, 280 or 290 kilometers, and you have to be an experienced rider to go up there.

No matter what happens in the next two weeks, Degenkolb will head east for the Munsterland Giro in Germany (the last race on his country's calendar each fall, this year on October 3), then the Hammer Series in Hong Kong and the Tour of Guanxi in China.

But if there is a chance to wear the German black, red, and gold tricot in Yorkshire this September, Degenkolb will take it with both hands.