Sky: Froome and Thomas will both be supported riders at the Tour de France

Team Sky sports director Nicolas Portal says Geraint Thomas will be a protected rider at the Tour de France, but is realistic about his podium chances

Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome on stage twenty of the 2015 Tour de France

(Image credit: Watson)

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas standing on the podium when the 2016 Tour de France ends in Paris next month would be "more than a dream", according to Team Sky's Nicolas Portal.

Sky is supporting Thomas as a separate leader in the Tour this July after the Welshman spent years working for others and leading the Classics team. Head sports director, Portal laughed when asked if it would be like in 2012, where Sky had two cyclists on the podium with Bradley Wiggins winning and Froome placing second.

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.