Tirreno-Adriatico 2016: Cummings soloes to victory, Stybar retains lead

At 222 kilometres, stage 4 in the Tirreno-Adriatico is marked by rolling roads. Stephen Cummings goes solo with 3.5 kilometres left and he powers to the win. Zdenek Stybar still leads the overall classification. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results stage 4 Tirreno-Adriatico

1. Stephen Cummings (gbr)
2. Salvatore Puccio (ita) + 0.13
3. Natnael Berhane (eri) s.t.
4. Daniel Moreno (spa) s.t.
5. Jan Bakelants (bel) s.t.
6. Matteo Montaguti (ita) + 0.16
7. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.25
8. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
9. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
10. Zdenek Stybar (cze) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Zdenek Stybar (cze)
2. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.09
3. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
5. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.11
6. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 0.11
7. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.14
8. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.18
9. Sebastien Reichenbach (swi) s.t.
10. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.20

11. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.24
12. Michele Scarponi (ita) s.t.
14. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.26
16. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.30
21. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.38

Race report
An early break of eight riders is brought back after a 15 kms chase and then it is up to three Italians and a Portuguese. Ricardo Vilela and Valerio Conti jump clear and when they are accompanied by by Manuel Bongiorno and Cesare Benedetti the gap balloons to over 7 minutes. Time for the pack to react.

At the first climb up to Montefalco Conti leaves his companions alone and goes solo, but to no avail as the peloton is bunched again with 30 kms left.

In the final kilometres Matteo Montaguti, Salvatore Puccio and Stephen Cummings escape. The Brit plays it smart and he leaves his companions alone with 3.5 kms left. Nobody is able to catch him and Cummings wins the stage.