Steven Kruijswijk: "I will try to assist Primoz and Jonas as much as possible"

Team Jumbo-Visma announced their team for Tour de France on Tuesday. Steven Kruijswijk is one of them, It will be his seventh Tour de France. The Dutchman will assist leaders Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard uphill as best as possible, after he's succeded in that role at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

"Each Tour participation is very special. I am very excited to ride the Tour de France with this team, I want to make a big contribution to the ambitions of the team to go for the yellow and green jersey. I hope especially in the second and third weeks to contribute my bit," the Dutchman said in a recent interview. Having ridden the Dauphiné instead of the Tour de Suisse, Kruijswijk found himself away from the team's Covid-19 outbreak, and has managed to show great form aswell ahead of the Grand Boucle, having played a crucial supporting role in the Frenchs stage-race.

Having adapted into his new role, he now hopes to be a key piece in the team's Tour success: "Then it will really go uphill and I will try to assist Primož and Jonas as much as possible. And especially the stage to Alpe d'Huez. That really is a mythical mountain. I have great and less great memories of it. But it's always a special moment when you ride up a climb where so many people are standing on the side. Especially if you're a bit at the front of the race," he added.