Geraint Thomas is prepared for "war" in the final week of the Tour de France as he and team-mate Chris Froome prepare to battle for the yellow jersey.

Thomas leads Team Sky colleague and defending champion Froome by a minute and 39 seconds, with Tom Dumoulin a further 11 seconds back in the General Classification.

Welshman Thomas took the overall lead with an impressive victory on stage 11 and has looked comfortable in his quest for a first Grand Tour triumph.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist is relishing the challenge as he prepares to hit the Pyrenees, with a gruelling 218-kilometre route from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon when the race resumes on Tuesday.

"We've had a look at the stages coming up, or at least the end of them, and we know it’s going to be tough," Thomas said as he enjoyed a well-earned rest day on Monday.

"Tomorrow is a descent to the finish, the short stage [on Wednesday] will be tough, and the last one [on Friday] is a lot of climbing, we do the [Col du] Tourmalet.

"The Alps block was probably tougher as three days back to back – we get a sprint day in between – but it's going to be war out there."

Team Sky will be a man down after Gianni Moscon was disqualified for hitting Elie Gesbert just after the start of Sunday's stage 15.

Thomas said of Moscon: "I was disappointed but there's nothing we can do. We're a rider down but all the boys are riding together now."