Tour de France: Chris Froome wants Geraint Thomas on podium

Geraint Thomas (left) assisted Chris Froome's 2013 Tour de France win

Tour de France leader Chris Froome says Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas deserves to be on the podium at the race's finish in Paris on Sunday.

Thomas will continue to put his own fourth place in jeopardy by supporting Froome with three stages remaining.

Froome is closing in on his second Tour de France title and has nothing but praise for the unselfish work of the Welshman.

"You can't fault anything," Froome said.

"He's ridden so well this race and I would love to see him get up on the podium. It could be magic if that could happen.

Britain's Froome is three minutes 10 seconds ahead of Colombia's Nairo Quintana after finishing stage 18 in 12th place.

Alejandro Valverde, in third, is four minutes nine seconds behind Froome, with Thomas a further two minutes 25 seconds back.

One of the pre-race favourites, Alberto Contador in fifth place, is only six seconds behind Thomas.

Froome and Team Sky withstood several attacks on the 186.5km route from Gap to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne on Thursday.

Thomas, 29, was on hand to help out Froome and the Welshman had no hesitation in playing the team role.

"The whole team's riding strong and everyone's thriving off Froomey," Thomas said.

"Everyone gets confidence from that and we've all been riding so well together. There's great morale in the team."