Andrei Greipel said that his third stage win in this year's Tour De France was all down to the right decisions being made,
Greipel who took stage fifteen in Valance, told letour.fr: "Hats off to Katusha who worked all day. We did some work also at the end but I didn't know what to expect with the head wind. In the first 18km today, everything went through my mind, like making the time cut.
"There were 24 guys up the road and it was so hard. I've had to deal with a different set up today as my lead out men weren't with me [Greg Henderson pulled out and Marcel Sieberg was in the laughing group].
"Jens Debusschere was my last man. We talked about the key point and he listened very well. Tim Wellens protected me from the wind all day. Lars Bak was in the breakaway. Adam Hansen was a great help, also Tony Gallopin even though he's high placed on GC.
"It was all about taking the right decisions at the end and having the power in the legs at the end. Alexander Kristoff's wheel was the right one to follow.
"I accelerated when I saw the 250 metres mark. At 100 metres, I put my 11 cog on and I was pleased that my chain stayed there.
"Compared to previous years, all I get is more experience. I've worked for being more explosive but I don't know if I'm the fastest in this Tour.
"I'm one of the fastest but other sprinters are also in good condition. It helps to win at the beginning of the Tour. It has helped me this year for my confidence. But all of my career, I've been fast and I've won races, even at the Tour de France. I don't become slower even when Marcel Kittel is not here.
"The next sprint will be on the Champs-Elysées but next Sunday seems pretty far away when I see the amount of climbing that we'll have to do before getting there. So my next goal is the rest day."
Tinkoff Saxo's Peter Sagan has said that he wanted to win the stage but had to settle for his tenth finish in the top five places in this race and said: "I went into the breakaway because I wanted to win the stage. But that's never an easy task. I felt good all day. I took a maximum of points in the intermediate sprint. After that, I wanted to insist.
"When we got caught by the bunch, I focused on the final sprint. I changed bike to use my favorite one for the flat. But sprinting is a bit of a lottery.
"There was a head wind in the last three kilometres. I tried to get the best position but Greipel was again stronger than me today."
Race leader Chris Froome said: "It looked like a straight forward stage on paper, an easy day for us and a good day for the sprinters but it wasn't! It was full gas all day. It didn't stop. It ended up being a very tough stage.
"My team-mates Peter Kennaugh and Richie Porte have had a bit of a cold. It's not up to me to comment on their medical condition but they seem fine.
"We're still nine riders in the race, that's a big credit to us.
"With over three minutes lead on GC I'm in a very privileged position. I'm looking forward to the rest day. There are five real stages left before the Champs-Elysées. I'm very happy with the fantastic support I got from the crowd today.