Tour de France 2018: Geraint Thomas warns his rivals against the attacks of phase 19 after 24 hectic times for Team Sky

So step 18 had to be a relief, as a hot and sticky but ultimately serene race in Pau was won by French sprinter Arnaud Démare and had no effect on the overall standings. Thomas qualifies for the last three stages with a two minute latency, but knows that the 200km stage of Friday will not be as calm and that he is likely to face a series of challenges. Attacks on the Aspin Pbad and Aubisque Pbad on either side of the highest pbad of the French Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet.

After the stage, Thomas warned his rivals that they were likely to jump into Saturday's individual time trial when they were attacking too hard Friday, the last mountainous route of the race .

"I'm waiting for the worst," he said. "We are expecting a lot of attacks right from the gun, on the break, maybe on the Tourmalet midway, and certainly on the last climb."

"Obviously, this is the last mountain stage and I think the guys will try to grab every possible opportunity, but I think in the back of their heads, they still have to have the TT (time trial). They can make a big shot tomorrow, maybe fly two or three minutes, and easily lose time in the TT – it's so hard. "

Froome lost nearly a minute in the final of stage 17 and said after that he would be riding for Thomas all the way to Paris, but the race leader seemed dubious on the role of his old friend would play.

"I hope we will not have to use Froomey. I hope we will have strength in numbers and that it will be able to follow as well, but it is obvious that having Froomey at my disposal, so to speak, is phenomenal.

"This will be a big test. I think it's more for the team to control most of the day and obviously the last climb will be up to the legs. It will be good to continue doing what we have done. "

Team Sky received a hostile reception from some along the route during the Tour, ranging from boos to spitting and even physical interference on the bike, and following the incident on the Portet, Thomas had a clear message for their most vehement detractors.

" Stay at home," he says. "Do not go out and try to affect the race like that, I could easily fall and lose some time." There was no time to worry, I did not know not really what had happened … I thought it was maybe an accident, just a fan too exuberant, but when we got back to the hotel, Wout [Poels, his team-mate] showed me the photos and it was obviously something else.

"This is not nice We came here to run our bikes, all the peloton l & # 39; 39, did, and you do not want people trying to affect the race like that because I could have easily stopped rolling. I would have been OK, but certainly would not have taken the time that I have done. This is not something you like to see. "

There was also a lot of support on the road with waving British flags and a noticeable number of Welsh red dragons flying high." Certainly, "he said after receiving a boost from its supporters. "It's like that most of the time. Obviously, there are some boos but the majority is really good and the number of British and Welsh here is incredible. It's great for us. "

Meanwhile, Sir Dave Brailsford defended Froome about his response after being overthrown by his gendarme . "If a policeman suddenly pulls you off the bike, it's a shock because you think you're being attacked," said Team Sky's director. "And I think every unbiased person would agree that your first reaction will be emotional."

Brailsford also echoed Thomas's feeling before Friday's mountainous day : It's a challenge that Sky has to face by the sheer force of numbers, the tactics that has so much underpinned their dominance over the past seven years .It's all the rest to find a way to break them. [19659185] Follow Independent Sport on Instagram here, for all the best images, videos and stories from the sports world.