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Thomas dreams of Tour de France yellow jersey again 

Geraint Thomas (Sky) was out previewing certain cobble sectors of the Paris-Roubaix course earlier this week. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

COMPIÈGNE, France (AFP) — Geraint Thomas is longing for wearing the Tour de France yellow shirt once more, in spite of the fact that he wouldn't state whether he hopes to supplant Chris Froome as Team Sky pioneer. 

Froome's interest at July's Tour is in question because of an unfriendly investigative finding in a doping test amid a year ago's Vuelta an Espana. On the off chance that Froome is prohibited and misses the Tour, Thomas would likely turn into the Sky pioneer for the race. 

"Where I sit in that group, I don't know yet. I'm simply focused on ensuring I get to the beginning line," Thomas told AFP on Saturday, in front of Sunday's lofty Paris-Roubaix one-day exemplary. Thomas donned yellow for four days finally year's Tour in the wake of winning the opening preface, yet he lost it to Froome after stage five and slammed out of the race four days after the fact while as yet sitting second generally. 

The initial nine phases in the current year's Tour are either level or bumpy, as opposed to precipitous, with the ninth stage completing at Roubaix subsequent to taking in some bone-crunching cobbles. 

It's territory that suits the all-rounder Thomas, who has yearnings of wearing yellow once more. "That would be extremely decent," he said. "I wouldn't turn that down, in the event that it happened that would be awesome." 

The Welshman has transformed himself into a phase racer, having already exceeded expectations in the one-day cobbled works of art. In 2014, he completed seventh in Paris-Roubaix and eighth at the Tour of Flanders — the two noteworthy 'Landmark' cobbled works of art. He won't be among the best top picks for Sunday's 257km 'Damnation of the North', which he says is harder than the Tour of Flanders because of the condition of the cobbles in northern France.

"It's very surprising to Belgium," he said of the 54 kilometers of cobbles. "This is a considerable measure rougher. In Roubaix, it resembles somebody's simply come and hurled a heap of stones out of the back of a truck." 

All things considered, the 31-year-old is anticipating it and has faith in Team Sky's odds. "You require a touch of fortunes and it's fun since it's not as controlled as the great visits," he said. "There's a nice sentiment in the group. We went out Thursday and it was quite sloppy, however with the sun it'll be dried out mostly now. 

"There will be a tailwind which will help, and we have a solid group, and on the off chance that we believe each other we can get a decent outcome."