Immediately after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Geraint Thomas' attention returned to the road.
The 26-year-old from Cardiff won Olympic team pursuit gold in Beijing in 2008 and, while Bradley Wiggins plotted his route to Tour de France victory in July, Thomas focused on defending the title in London.
With that mission accomplished, Thomas departed for Majorca to step up preparations for the 2013 season and with high aspirations. Thomas, who has been nominated for BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year, said: "Since the day we crossed the line in the Games it's all been about the road and striving for that."
He continued: "I'm super excited about getting the season going. I haven't raced on the road properly since the Giro (d'Italia, in May). I had racing after the Games, but I didn't have my road legs and it was more about survival."
Thomas was a key component of Team Sky's Tour squad in 2010 and 2011, making quite an impression in the best young rider's white jersey, but prioritised his Olympic bid in 2012, missing Wiggins' triumph.
Seeing his friend stand at the top of the Paris podium in the yellow jersey provided inspiration for Thomas, who could yet emulate Wiggins as a Grand Tour contender.
"You definitely think 'why not?' But it's a long way from saying that to actually doing it in a few years' time," said Thomas, whose season will begin at January's Tour Down Under in Adelaide. I'd definitely love to have a go at it. That's something we'll have to figure out once we get further down the line."
Thomas' Team Sky colleague Pete Kennaugh, who, like the Welshman won world and Olympic team pursuit titles this year, may be thinking the same thing.
For next season, Thomas' individual targets are the spring classics, particularly the Tour of Flanders in Belgium next March.
"It's one I've always loved and it's something I really want to try to do well in," Thomas said.