Brailsford: Thomas a future Grand Tour team leader

Double Olympic track pursuit champion Thomas has been steadily making a name for himself on the road in recent years, including winning road race gold and time trial bronze at last year's Commonwealth Games. In March he became the first British rider to win the formidable E3 Harelbeke race in Belgium while earlier this month he finished second in the Tour de Suisse.

The 29-year-old has been named as part of Team Sky's nine-man line-up that will support Chris Froome as he bids to retain his Tour de France crown, starting on Saturday.

But Brailsford admitted Welshman Thomas, who will be competing in his sixth Tour this year, could take on a more pivotal role in future Grand Tours.

"Geraint is going from strength to strength," Brailsford told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"His opportunity to ride Grand Tours, try and lead the team at stage races is becoming clear - that's the way it's going to go.

"I'm a very big believer in ownership. You can tell people what to do but if they believe in it, they are part of the decision-making process, they buy into it more.

"In my opinion that's the way to go, so that will very much be a discussion with Geraint.

"He's one of the world's most versatile riders. The challenge for Geraint is that he can get dragged in to helping out in all scenarios.

"The key for us as a team this year is to make sure we use his specific skills that we want to use in a certain area and give him the protection he deserves and give him the opportunity."

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