Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), stage winner in an official interview:

"It was close at the end. I was glad that the result was announced quickly. It was a very easy stage. Everyone wanted to take it easy for the Pyrenees tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I heard some crashes around me on the last kilometre. Hopefully everyone is okay. With the bends at the end, it was a hectic finale. I lost my team. But on the home straight I found Mathieu van der Poel again and he gave me an exceptionally good sprint. But my legs were cramping and Caleb (Ewan; editor's note) came very close. It was a nice arrival, but I thought the roads would be wider and safer. The bends were tricky too. Fortunately, the tyres were good enough so that you didn't slip in the corners."

Van der Poel glad to have stayed on the bike

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), on Eurosport:

"A racetrack is no safer than a normal road. That was very fast. The bends are very difficult to judge in a peloton and you have to know where you're going. I'm glad I stayed on the bike. At the end I found a gap with Jasper at the perfect moment. I think I dropped him where he wanted me to. It was close in the end, but he won again. It will be another nice evening in the room."

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), fourth on Eurosport:

"That was a complicated final. I said this morning that I would be happy with a top 10 finish and I think we did a good job. We didn't know what was in it for us in this final, but the team did a great job. Philipsen was extremely fast. Fourth on this stage with this finale is okay, maybe I can finish a little further up in the final Tour de France week after the mountains. My chances will be better then."

>> How the 4th stage went

>> New Aeroad from van der Poel in the liveblog

>> Preview of the 5th stage with Rolf Aldag

Cavendish relied on Pedersen

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team), fifth on Eurosport:

"I jumped from sprint train to sprint train in the final and then I saw Mads Pedersen with Jasper Stuyven. Mads usually starts his sprint very early - so I hung in there. I was waiting for them to go, but they didn't. I lost his rear wheel 350 metres before the finish and realised that it wasn't quite working in this final. I would have needed a better position."

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny), stage runner-up on Eurosport:

"The team did a good job and dropped me off at the front, because we knew it was going to be hectic with all the corners at the end. I was in a good position and knew that it would be tough for others to overtake from behind. I had a clear run, but in the end Jasper (Philipsen; editor's note) and van der Poel found each other and flew down the final straight. It was hard to counter that."