Stephen Cummings had hoped to win the Tour du Poitou-Charentes overall but he came up short against a superior Sylvain Chavanel. The result left the Brit a bit disappointed.

Stephen Cummings finished fourth Thursday in the Stage 4 individual time trial at the Tour du Poitou Charentes. The result moved the BMC Racing Team rider into fourth overall with one day to go. 

Cummings powered his bike to a time of 30:17 on the 24.3-kilometer course. Stage winner and new race leader Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) was 73 seconds faster than Cummings and 44 seconds better than runner-up Svein Tuft (ORICA-GreenEDGE). Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) was third, 58 seconds back of Chavanel.

"Steve did a good job," BMC Racing Team Sport Director Yvon Ledanois said. "I think he was a bit disappointed because he wanted the victory. But Chavanel was very strong. So for me, it is not a bad result for Steve."

Past world road champion Thor Hushovd of the BMC Racing Team notched his third top-five finish in his last five races with his fifth-place finish in the 111-km road race on the double-stage day. Nicola Ruffoni (Bardiani-CSF) took the win ahead of Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Stage 1 and 2 victor Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

Friday's final stage is 191.9 kilometers and features an uphill finish. Cummings is 1:11 back of Chavanel in the overall standings.