Sir Bradley Wiggins reckons Geraint Thomas can win the Tour de France another two times in his career.

Wiggins, the first Brit to win the world’s greatest race in 2012, says his former Team Sky team-mate was the strongest rider this year.

And he believes Thomas can see off the challenge of fellow Sky rider Chris Froome who will be desperate to get that record-equalling fifth crown after finishing third this year.

“G was without doubt the strongest rider in the Tour and he could win another two Tours, depending on how the team goes now,” Wiggins, speaking at the Ruler Classic in London, said.

“A Chris Froome on form for sure has got another Tour win in him, and he will want that for five. We’ll see how it pans out.”

“This is a guy who has been team pursuit world champion, Olympic team pursuit champion, seventh in Paris-Roubaix. There’s not many Tour winners who can go top 10 in Paris-Roubaix, so it shows you the diversity of G.

“One thing G is really good at – that he doesn’t get enough praise for – is the way he rides on the flat stages. I don’t think he came out of the top 10 positions in the whole Tour.

“And the praise Luke Rowe doesn’t get, because he puts him in those positions. The pair of them, I don’t know anyone like them, maybe Stuart O’Grady or someone who can ride in the bunch like they can.”

Thomas – the first Welshman and only the third Brit to win Le Tour –  is likely to target a defence of his title in 2019 though admits he still has unfinished business with the Giro d’Italia.

But Froome has also hinted he may again attempt a Giro/Tour double next year despite missing out this time following his victory in the Italian Grand Tour.