Geraint Thomas believes Bradley Wiggins could have his main GC rivals running scared when he lines up against them at the Tour de France this month.

The Welshman knows his team leader better than most as both riders formed part of the hugely successful Great Britain track team before shifting their attention towards the road.

Even when they were on separate teams the two Olympic champions remained good friends and now they are working together again at Team Sky, Thomas will be doing all he can to ensure Wiggins gets his best possible chance for success at La Grande Boucle.

But while the 24-year-old is only too aware of the talent Wiggins possesses, he feels the likes of Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong and Andy Schleck could be in for a surprise or two before the race culminates in Paris on 25 July.

He said: "I think a few of the Tour contenders will be a scared of him because his fourth-placed finish last year was a bit of a shock for them. Brad was going into the unknown back then, but he'll definitely have the confidence this time around to really go for it. His whole year has been building up to this race so his rivals are going to see him as a far bigger threat now.

"In that first week he's got the stage which takes on some of the cobbled sections of Paris-Roubaix [stage three], and I think that could definitely work to his advantage. He knows how to ride the cobbles better than the likes of Contador and Schleck - he made it into the top 25 there last year - and he has a strong team to back him up.

"I think Juan Antonio Flecha will be great to have around on that stage in particular, and also for that whole first week. He knows the roads in that area really well and is a really strong rider. Then, of course, you've got guys like Michael Barry who have bags of experience. He's been around for years and knows how to race properly over that type of terrain. Both he and Steve Cummings showed at the Giro that they can be very helpful wing-men for Brad.

"As the race progresses into the mountains, Brad will then have people like Thomas Löfkvist, Serge Pauwels and Simon Gerrans who are all super strong climbers. Edvald's obviously a phenomenal talent as well. Although he was injured for a few months, he's come back well and is just flying now.

"As for my role in the team, I'll be trying keeping Brad out of trouble in that first week and when we move into the mountains I'll position him as best I can towards the bases of those climbs and then let the other guys on the team help him out.

"On those long ascents I'm just going to be trying to get over them as comfortably as I can to ensure I'm as fresh as possible for my next day of work."

Lessons learned

Despite his relatively young age, Thomas has already ridden the Tour once before, in 2007, and while he admitted to feeling like a fish out of water back then, this time around he is planning to play a far more pivotal role in the race.

He added: "The last time I competed at the Tour it was all about survival, my only goal was to make it to the end. It had been a shock to even earn a place and I was the youngest rider there. Obviously this year is going to be completely different; I'm actually going to be competing in the race now and trying to do something to benefit my team.

"That whole experience of 2007 though will definitely stand me in good stead. I've also ridden a Giro d'Italia since then, so I know the rhythm of Grand Tour races much better now, and also what to expect."

Thomas is certainly going into the race in good form. At the end of last month he was crowned the Great Britain National Road Race champion and will be wearing the famous white jersey when he takes to the start line of stage one in Brussels:

"It's an honour to be wearing that jersey and my confidence has been boosted no-end going into the Tour. I'm feeling in the best condition of my career at the moment and I am ready to rip it up for three weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to do everyone proud."