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 The Welshman, who like Bradley Wiggins made his name on the track,
showed his improving climbing ability at last year's Tour when he
finished 15th overall after riding mainly to help team leader Chris
Froome.
In the week-long Paris-Nice race, he beat seven-times grand tour
winner Alberto Contador by four seconds after surviving the
Spaniard's onslaught in the final hilly stage, showing great
composure and resilience.
He still has a lot to learn to become the third Briton to win the
world's greatest race, however, after Wiggins in 2012 and Froome in
2013 and 2015.
"One step at a time," said Thomas, who also won the week-long Tour
of Algarve last month.
"This year is all about one-week races. I think riding with Froomey,
living (on the French Riviera) near him, I learnt a hell of a lot.
His record speaks for itself."
Thomas has been following a path similar to Wiggins's, starting his
career on the track, with both men clinching the team pursuit
Olympic title in Beijing in 2008.
He finished his first Tour de France in 2007 in 140th position --
out of 141 finishers.
But Team Sky, which he joined in 2010, started his transformation
into a one-say classic rider although several coaches and sports
directors lauded his 'huge engine', hinting he had the qualities to
become a grand tour rider.
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The development started last season when Thomas lost considerable
weight -- at least eight kilos -- and the all-rounder now believes
he could mount a Tour challenge in two years, just before Froome's
contract with Team Sky comes to an end.
"I'm happy where I am at the moment," the 29-year-old said.
"This year, next year I'm really going to learn what it is about,
leading a team. I'm like a sponge, soaking up as much as I can."
"Even if he's attached to the classics, he's been yearning for
something else since last year," Team Sky sports director Nicolas
Portal said.
So instead of trying to win Paris-Roubaix, the 'Queen of the
Classics' in May, Thomas will be in Tenerife attending a Sky
training camp.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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