Geraint 'Brilliant' Geraint Thomas good enough to lead Team Sky - Brailsford
Geraint Thomas dreams of challenging for the Tour de France yellow jersey, but for now will work selflessly in support of Chris Froome.
Team Sky is solely focused on delivering Froome to the top of the Tour podium in Paris on July 26 and Thomas has been so influential in the first week that Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford believes he could challenge for a Grand Tour title himself.
"Geraint has been one of the best riders in this race," Brailsford said on the first rest day in Pau.
"He could lead the team, but the good thing about Geraint is he will say he is there for Froomey and he means it.
"The next logical step is for him to lead a team at the Giro (d'Italia) or Vuelta (a Espana). He is a brilliant rider."
Thomas is twice an Olympic champion in the team pursuit and has made an impression in his prior five Tours, with his versatility particularly impressive.
When Froome crashed out of the 2014 Tour, Richie Porte was 'Plan B', but the Australian struggled to sustain his challenge.
Thomas insists there is no 'Plan B' this year, although would relish being 'Plan G' in future.
Thomas, who is known as 'G', said: "As a kid you always dream of the biggest races and going to try to win the biggest races. It would be an absolute dream to do that one day.
"At the moment it's all about keeping that progression going.
"Since I left the track behind it's felt like I've been improving as a climber all the time and as a rider. Hopefully this Tour I can keep doing that.
"At the moment I'm just concerned about this race and just doing what I can for Froomey."
Froome was the second British winner of the Tour after Sir Bradley Wiggins' triumph in 2012.
Froome was second in Olympic year, but Thomas has played down his prospects of joining the Kenya-born Briton on the podium.
He added: "Podium would be out of this world, but top 10 or top 20 would be great on a personal level as well. The main thing is doing what I can for Chris."
Tables turned! Watch Geraint interview our reporter Ned Boulting: