When the dust has settled, the riders will gather for what could be an even tougher and more decisive fourth stage of the race. Starting in Castleisland and finishing 142 kilometres later in Castletownbere, it will take in some of the toughest roads in Cork and Kerry and will ensure a worthy yellow jersey at the halfway point.

The first half of the stage is relatively flat, travelling through Killorglin and Killarney before tougher terrain kicks in. The stunning second category climb of Ladies’ View (km. 73.4) is quickly followed by the similarly-ranked Moll’s Gap (km. 78.1), then Tousist (category 3, km. 101.9) and Knockanoughanish (category 2, km. 107.7). From there the fragmenting peloton will speed towards the first category battleground of Healy Pass, which comes just 23.4 kilometres from the finish, and will see some all-out attacks.

“The part from Castleisland into Killorglin into Killarney is straightforward enough. But from there the riders are faced with the energy-sapping climbs of Ladies View and up Moll’s Gap, so there will be a lot of pressure that day,” he predicts. “Then with the Healy Pass coming so close to finish, the race will certainly break up. It could be crucial sort of a stage.”