High on confidence after recent successes on the road, Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas believes preparations for this year’s Tour de France have left him in the best shape yet.

With the 105th edition of cycling’s most prestigious event due to commence on Saturday, Thomas arrives in peak condition, after wins in the Criterium du Dauphine and last week’s UK national time trial.

The 32-year-old Welsh rider rode to victory in the Criterium in early June, finishing one minute ahead of his nearest rival and fellow Briton Adam Yates.

The double Olympic track champion’s win was Team Sky’s sixth in eight years, and Thomas’ second World Tour stage race win after Paris-Nice in 2016.

And now he was hopeful of transferring that momentum, which was also boosted by winning last Thursday's national time trials by over half a minute, into Le Tour.

“The Criterium du Dauphine was the last big race before the Tour and it’s probably one of the biggest if not the biggest outside the Grand Tour, so it was massive for the confidence,” said Thomas.

“I think it’s the best shape I’ve been in going into the Tour ever. It’s the first time I’ve targeted the race properly form the start of the year.

“Last year I targeted the Giro d’Italia, that ended shortly with injury but then I obviously went to the Tour after that and was still in good shape.

“I feel like I’m better now than I was going into it last year so that’s exciting.”

The Cardiff-born rider wore the yellow jersey until stage five of last year’s Tour de France, which fellow Team Sky rider Chris Froome went on to win.

That 2017 victory made Froome a four-time winner while Thomas was forced to withdraw due to a broken collarbone sustained during a stage-nine crash.

Heading into his ninth Tour, Thomas’ enthusiasm for the race is as strong as ever though and he’s hoping his current shape can power him to a sustained challenge alongside established team leader Froome.

“It’s the one you dreamt of doing since you were a kid,” he added. “And now going into it in good shape and potentially to be up there for most of the race - it’s exciting.

“The first week is chaotic, so I’ll try and get through that as best as possible and attack the race, and not be overly aggressive but certainly try and play to my strengths.

“Once we get to the mountains, we’ll reassess and see where I am and where everyone else is and hopefully I’ll have similar climbing legs as I did in the Dauphine.”

Thomas has supported both Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins to Tour victories in a golden period for British cycling, with the Welsh rider acknowledging the improvement in conditions riding on UK roads.

He is also involved with this year’s Prudential RideLondon, coaching a team of riders after Prudential challenged 50 people of mixed cycling ability to take on Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 on Sunday July 29.

Together, the team are using the 100-mile challenge to raise money for the event’s official charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“It’s really good, especially recently, the last decade or so, cycling has just exploded in the UK,” added Thomas.

“This is a great time to be British and racing, as a pro, especially when you go back for Prudential RideLondon or Tour of Britain or any sort of race.

“I remember when I did Prudential RideLondon back in 2016, there are good racing roads around there down in Surrey and Box Hill, so I really enjoy going back and racing.”

Geraint Thomas is working with Prudential to support their Pru Peloton team, a group of mixed ability cyclists taking on Prudential RideLondon and fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Follow their journey: www.prugoals.co.uk/pru-peloton