One of the most open editions of the Tour de France in decades will resume on Tuesday with only 39 seconds separating five riders between second and sixth, all of them breathing down the necks of what appears to be a fading Julian Alaphilippe.

With so much focus on defending champion Geraint Thomas' time losses and the emerging French challenge, Steven Kruijswijk has managed to fly a little under the radar despite sitting just 12 seconds behind the Welshman.

Jumbo-Visma, despite losing Wout Van Aert to a crash and splitting their priorities between Kruijswijk and sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, have looked the strongest team in the mountains and Kruijswijk has been impressive if not explosive.

The 32-year-old Dutchman has finished fourth in the Giro and the Vuelta before amid a series of good results, but has never managed a Grand Tour podium.

Sommieres, France. 22nd July 2019

1. 00:00 Steven Kruijswijk at news conference

2. 00:07 Cutaway of Kruijswijk

3. 00:17 SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Kruijswijk, Jumbo-Visma

"All of them are quite hard and give a lot of opportunities but I have to say the further you come into the race, the fatigue will play a more important role. Especially the last day, it's a really hard stage the last Saturday and the final climb is 31 kilometres long and it's a horrible climb and I think if you look in the morning at the General Classification it's still not decided Saturday morning and we will see a great race on Saturday in the afternoon."

4. 01:00 SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Kruijswijk, Jumbo-Visma

"The last three stages we went for 10 days there (and) we stayed in Tignes and that final climb I did like seven or eight times I think. So that won't have any surprise for me. The other stages we saw one time but that's enough for me. Especially at this stage which finishes in Tigne and you go 2700 metres of altitude and that's going to be a really hard stage. It's a long uphill climb, fast descent and then again a hard finish. Hopefully (it'll be) my day."

5. 02:01 Cutaway of Kruijswijk

6. 02:10 SOUNDBITE (Dutch) Steven Kruijswijk, Jumbo-Visma

+++For our Dutch-speaking clients+++

7. 02:51 SOUNDBITE (Dutch) Steven Kruijswijk, Jumbo-Visma

+++For our Dutch-speaking clients+++

STORYLINE:

Reaction after Primoz Roglic won the 19th stage of the Tour de France on Friday (27th July) with second-placed Geraint Thomas retaining the yellow jersey.

Laruns, France. 27th July, 2018.

1. 00:00 Mikel Landa during interview

2. 00:04 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Mikel Landa, Team Movistar:

"I've enjoyed a lot today. From the supporters and because of my good physical condition. I feel satisfied even though we couldn't win."

(Q: Do you leave with a good sensation?)

"Yes, because I did the best I could, with better and worse moments. I gave it all so I feel satisfied."

3. 00:25 Mikel Landa with fans and media

4. 00:29 Steven Kruijswijk during interview

5. 00:34 SOUNDBITE (English): Steven Kruijswijk, Team Lotto:

"It's been great for us. Today we really fought for the victory and the stage win. To get on the podium maybe in Paris.  And Primoz (Roglic) showed himself that he is really good."

6. 00:48 Steven Kruijswijk

7. 00:51 SOUNDBITE (English): Steven Kruijswijk, Team Lotto:

"Today I gave it all. I did my best. We started really well during the first week with Dylan (Groenewegen) of course.. It looks like a long way to go with the stage wins for him. But if you see what kind of team we brought here. A sprint team and for the mountains and GC (General Classification . Until now it worked out great."

8. 01:15 Robert Gesink

9. 01:25 SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Gesink, Team Lotto:

" It was an attempt ... I could join Sky and ride at the same tempo as they did but then in the end there were still many Sky guys left to do the job. So we thought it would be more wise to do it short and hard. Also of course, it was setting up my team-mates for their attacks and I am happy it made sense what I did."

10. 01:52 Robert Gesink being interviewed

11. 01:56 SOUNDBITE (English): Robert Gesink, Team Lotto:

"If I would have done GC, I would have already done something way earlier. But they were all really relaxed and it was a long way to go and it is going to be a hard climb. So OK, now you can start then I started pulling and they weren't worried. Both GC boys were super relaxed and it was good."

12. 02:17 Jonathan Castroviejo

13. 02:26 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Jonathan Castroviejo, Team Sky:

"Things will depend on how things turn out. Tomorrow will be a very curvy individual time trial going up and down all the time. Very physically demanding. It will be very tough. But I don't think there will be surprises. It will be close between (Primoz) Roglic and why not (Geraint) Thomas?"

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 02:52