The final stage takes us westwards, from Nenagh to Listowel, and there is so much still to fight for.
15 riders have finished in the Top 10 already, on the first two stages. There's an Australian dominance to the top of the GC right now, with Goss leading Ewan and Nelson 4th - with other stage winner Cavendish still close in 2nd. But a win for Lo Cicero, Roelandts and Vantomme can still be enough for overall victory, and mathematically still too for Guarnieri and Keukeleire.
Mohs and Guerao two big names with nothing to show yet, aside from the one bonus second for Mohs. Stauff with only minor seconds gained two, while nothing yet for Drapac, Lander, and others - with no inclination to sprint at all shown by either Manninen or Gaviria.
Let's not ignore the profile though. This is the hardest stage of the race with multiple climbs, that could have an impact come the finish.
It also makes for a very desirable breakaway stage. There are three intermediate sprints, rather than one. The King of the Mountains competition is very much up for grabs, with points equivalent to a stage win, and with the harder terrain plus not the strongest of support for all top teams - could the breakaway even survive and steal the race?
The intent is clear straight away with Sirironnachai driving the moves, looking to retain his jersey. Pinot is there too - looking to add Ireland to his collection, having already bossed the climbs in Venezuela? They aren't quite on the same scale! Worth noting as well that the Thai rider is in 15th overall, higher than team leader Guerao.
8 in the break in total: Agostini Coronel Durbridge Kumara Pinot Sirironnachai Van Zandbeek Yechezkel
Yechezkel also being back again, risking his GC placing (17th) and 3rd in the U25 classification, for a chance to make that better. Sri Lankan Kumara is the only other young rider in this group.
Before the time bonuses is the first, and biggest, climb of the day. Bolingbrook has a Cat 2 status, offering points of 10-8-6-4-2. Pinot is not going to be involved though, and Van Zandbeek opens the attacks.
Sirironnachai placed 2nd wheel, and then strikes to take the points! It brings him to 16, while Agostini takes 8, Durbridge 6 and Van Zanbeek 4. Finally, there are 2 for Yechezkel, taking him to 6 in total.
Onto the first sprint, and the expected close battle. The sprint stats, listed below, show that Amateur Coronel should be able to pick up some good seconds here, along with Kumara.
Coronel
69
Kumara
69
Sirironnachai
64
Durbridge
62
Pinot
62
Van Zandbeek
61
Agostini
60
Yechezkel
60
But positioning can also be quite important, and this is shown. Van Zandbeek wins the first sprint from Coronel, with Yechezkel just holding off Kumara for 3rd.
In the peloton, Podium Ambition have again been doing a lot, but with earlier help from Kraftwerk too - notably from Willwohl.
The 2nd sprint comes around, and shows that positioning is probably more important than speed here. Yechezkel leading the line from Pinot and Agostini, with Sirironnachai having just pulled off. And the Thai can only manage to re-overtake Agostini, with Valio's Israeli earning more seconds.
Those 4 seconds gained today already lift him to a provisional 13th overall, and 2nd place in the U25 competition.
And Pinot now has an unexpected GC position, as he looks to take something from this race. He carries it forward on the 2nd climb, winning it for 6 points. Agostini takes 4 to move to 12, and keep the competition alive into the final climb with Sirironnachai being distanced. Durbridge takes the 2 for 3rd.
Together with Van Zandbeek the four have a gap. 16 seconds on the others, 1'30 on the peloton with 24km to go. Castroviejo and Suryadi have been the most prominent of chasers in there.
But the 4 don't work together, and when the break becomes 8 once again, there's no return of purpose. The peloton are really closing in, and the final sprint goes uncontested.
Durbridge wins it, from Coronel and Van Zandbeek. Another Australian with time bonuses, while leaving Agostini and Kumara to have failed to grasp the time bonus opportunities - the latter yet to even score climbing points either.
And he won't be getting any from the last climb it seems, as the group are caught with the summit in sight.
No late moves from Agostini or Pinot, with Sirironnachai securing the jersey, as Castroviejo powers through to lead a Carrefour clean sweep of the final points. Bercz 2nd, and Lo Cicero of all people in 3rd.
No breakaway riders to ruin sprint trains then!
Fablok took full command as they look to improve an a disappointing race.
They aren't exactly as structured as Kraftwerk though, but still, both Guardini and Mohs are up there amongst their teammates. Following Mohs are Drapac, Cavendish, Lo Cicero, Goss, Guarnieri, Keukeleire, Stauff, Roelandts
and Lander.
Kraftwerk are clustered near the front too, perhaps with the teams classification more in mind, with no move for a leadout yet.
Stepniak his the front with 3km to go and the Fablok train is clearly in place, Guardini and Mohs then the other sprinters. Interesting to note Drapac in his best position yet, despite the hillier stage.
And Kreder is now leading out Willwohl - is Cavendish going to swing across when they get far enough forward?
Vantomme poorly placed at the bottom right of this shot. Ewan also will work to do but further forward at this stage. Guerao another back in this pack.
Two-pronged assault on Fablok now. It is Lo Cicero who swings across the road as Bercz has launched a sprint; while Cavendish has instead decided to go long and alone, with his teammates unable to offer a leadout.
Brave move from Cavendish as he bids to win the race, it's never easy to win such a long sprint, and Fablok are a powerful train to take on.
Final kilometre and now both Guardini and Mohs are chasing after the Brit. Ewan has also had to go fairly long to get in the mix, while the other sprinters are beginning their moves. Feiereisen has also now appeared in the middle - offering a different lead out to Lo Cicero.
Still Cavendish is leading the way, 600m to go now. Mohs overtaking Guardini. Ewan, Keukeleire, Guarnieri and Drapac next on the road.
Goss has it all to do, both Ewan and Cavendish set to overtake him as it stands. Stauff is looking quick on the left.
Now Cavendish starts to falter, and Mohs takes the lead.
The pack are swarming. Guarnieri and Lo Cicero going past Ewan and Drapac, and soon Cavendish too.
Erik Mohs takes the victory!
Guarnieri is 2nd, Lo Cicero 3rd, Stauff 4th and Drapac 5th - all with their best results of the race.
And Goss passes both Cavendish and Ewan in the closing stages to secure the overall victory, and win the Ras Tailteann. His record of 1st, 7th and 6th was the most consistent of all sprinters and enough to win both overall, and in the points competition.
Keukeleire and Roelandts complete the Top 10 on the stage, with Vantomme only recovering to 11th, ahead of Lander, Bonifazio, Guerao, Hansen, Nelson and Manninen.
Behind Goss, Ewan is 2nd overall, Lo Cicero up to 3rd overall, Cavendish 4th, Guarnieri 5th and Mohs 6th. Stauff, Nelson, Roelandts and Vantomme comple the Top 10, then Kreder, Feiereisen, Drapac and Keukeleire.
A group of 8 got dropped from the peloton at the end, including Pinot, Yechezkel and Durbridge. But the gap closed enough on the line for them to avoid losing time. And this means that Yechezkel holds on for 15th overall, and 2nd in the U25 classification behind Ewan.
Van Zandbeek, Sirironnachai and Coronel also into the Top 20 after the breakaway today, and Dubridge 21st - with Kulppi in between, and Willwohl ending 16th.
Guerao ending as best of the non-bonus earning sprinters in 27th, ahead of Bonifazio, Lander and Hansen. Some consolation for SPAR is the KoM win of Sirironnachai.
Fablok the best team on the day, but that is only enough for 4th in the Teams classification. Kraftwerk Man Machine secure the win there, ahead of Netia and Carrefour.
