Dimension Data had originally set Cummings to work to benefit Edvald Boasson Hagen, but he went out alone when it became obvious that plan wasn't coming to fruition, to claim just his third stage win at WorldTour level.
Rain had been forecast, but it was the same clear skies as yesterday that greeted the riders at the start. Four riders made the early jump, Cesare Benedetti (BOA), Francesco Bongiorno (BAR), Valerio Conti (LAM) and Ricardo Vilela (CJR).
The four riders were allowed to stay clear by the peloton, the first half of the stage holding no lure for the peloton, only containing two intermediate sprints. Towards the start of the first of two circuits from Montefalco, the group remained three minutes clear, with Conti attacking and leading the way over the summit.
With a flat finish after the four climbs, sprinters were still looking at the finish as a possibility if they could hang on up the hills, but it was not to be as Dimension Data's Mark Cavendish, as well as yesterday's runner up and third placed Caleb Ewan (OGE) and Elia Viviani (SKY) were dropped.
With 35km to go, Conti's continued attacks had devastated the breakaway group, and the peloton picked the pace up to reel him in 30km from the finish, on the run up to Trevi, the penultimate climb of the day.
On the final climb, the second to Montefalco, several riders looked to get themselves into place for a strong descent, including Greg van Avermaet (BMC), Peter Sagan (TNK) and Vincenzo Nibali (AST), but due to several failed attacks, none of the big names were able to take control.
It was a scrappy descent towards the finish, Matteo Montaguti (AGR) and Giovanni Visconti (MOV) the first two to get any daylight to the peloton. Dimension Data sent Steve Cummings out to bring them back, with a mind to setting up Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Montaguti tried again when they were reeled back in, along with Salvatore Puccio (SKY). Cummings went with them again to try to disrupt, but when they were chased down by another three riders 4km from the finish, it dawned that it was likely that one of those six would be the stage winner.
Switching to plan B, Cummings pulled the pin, the other five riders left expecting each other to make the chase, and no-one willing to do so, least of all Cummings' teammate Natnael Berhane. With no challenge to his lead, Cummings had a comfortable finish, rolling across the line well clear of Puccio and Berhane, sealing two top three places for Africa's team.
Back in the main peloton, Peter Sagan won an almost meaningless sprint to take 7th and a haldful of sprint points, while overall leader Zdenek Stybar finished safely, with no more time gaps to his closest rivals and retaining his 9 second lead over the BMC trio of Damiano Caruso, van Avermaet and Tejay van Garderen.
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Later in the afternoon, the Tirreno-Adriatico race organisers announced that tomorrow's stage 5, which was expected to be the one to shake up the GC order, will not take place due to heavy snowfall. With the loss of the race's queen stage, there are just two stages remaining, a largely flat stage 6 and the individual time trial of stage 7, which will completely change the nature of this race.
Stage winner Steve Cummings (DDD):"We were trying to do a stage for Edvald Boasson Hagen, we thought that he was the best chance for today. I was there as the policeman but it came to 3km and normally I can do 3km alone. I tried to do that strategy. I don’t know if that was ok but it seemed to work out."
Stage results:
1. Steve Cummings (DDD) 6:04:49
2. Salvatore Puccio (SKY) + :13
3. Natnael Berhane (DDD) + :13
General Classification:
1. Zdenek Stybar (EQS) 15:56:32
2. Damiano Caruso (BMC) + :09
3. Greg van Avermaet (BMC) + :09
4. Tejay van Garderen (BMC) + :09
5. Bob Jungels (EQS) + :11
6. Gianluca Brambilla (EQS) + :11
7. Peter Sagan (TNK) + :14
8. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + :18
9. Sebastien Reichenbach (FDJ) +:18
10. Roman Kreuziger (TNK) + :20
Points Classification:
1. Peter Sagan (TNK) 21
2. Zdenek Stybar (EQS) 13
3. Fernando Gaviria (EQS) 12
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