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Thomas and Froome will get a much warmer welcome in Britain than they did in France

GERAINT THOMAS and Chris Froome are assured of a warmer welcome when the Tour of Britain sets off tomorrow.

Britain’s Yellow Jersey legends were abused at the roadside when Thomas clinched Team Sky’s sixth triumph in seven years on the Tour de France.

Froome – a four-time Le Tour winner – was punched, spat at and doused in liquids which may not have been pure water by primitives who believe he should have been banned, not cleared, over his salbutamol case after one sample in 2017 contained asthma medication beyond the permitted level. And Thomas was booed on the podiums for being Froome’s team-mate.

But on the 710-mile Tour of Britain, which begins with a 109-mile stage from Pembrey to Newport on Thomas’ home Welsh soil, the atmosphere will be far removed from the hostility across the Channel.

He will enjoy the adulation – although he admitted, in an interview last month, that the hostility from French gutters served a purpose.

Thomas said: “I can’t see the hate changing any time soon – that’s because I hope Sky’s dominance continues for as long as I’m riding for them.”

Froome is already looking to next year. He said: “I’m grateful for everything I’ve done so far, but if I get a fifth Tour de France win, it would be special to be in that elite group of guys with five Yellow Jerseys.”