Dempster, riding for Team Netapp-Endura, finished 16th behind German star Marcel Kittel in a sprint finish to the fourth stage.

The strong effort saw him rise from 152nd to 126th in the overall standings.

He remains 17 minutes and nine seconds behind the yellow jersey of Italy's Vincenzo Nibali.

Meanwhile, defending champion Chris Froome has been cleared of injury after suffering a scare in a crash on stage four.

He hit the deck just a few kilometres into the 163.5km stage four from Le Touquet to Lille.

But Sky team manager Dave Brailsford said Froome was fine to continue for the cobbled stage five from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg, and the X-ray was merely a precaution.

"We've done the tests and we're relieved," said Brailsford.

"He will start tomorrow and I hope it will be a great day."

His Sky team were initially worried but after a trip back to the Tour medical car, Froome continued on the stage with a splint on his left wrist and strapping on his right hand and left thigh.

He was also sporting grazes to his elbow and his shorts had been shredded.