Aaron Gate of An Post Chain Reaction hurdled across the line to claim stage 6 win of the An Post Rás in Dungarvan.
Nicolai Brochner (Riwal Platform) and Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) took second and third respectively in a gruelling sprint finish.
Relentless attacks from Irish National Team rider Eddie Dunbar saw the Irishman build up to a 4:30 lead alongside Dylan Kennett (New Zealand National Team) and Daire Feeley (Galway Team Itap).
Dunbar resiliently pressured with attacks for the best part of 100km, but the bunch eventually reeled them in with 40km to go.
Intense jockeying for position saw three new riders emerge to the front and establish a 40-second gap with 10km left. These three were subsequently caught within sight of the finish line to see Gate outsprint the field.
2014 overall winner Clemens Fankhauser (Austria Tirol) retains the yellow leaders jersey with only two stages of the Rás to go.
On Saturday they make their back up the country towards Baltinglass in Co Wicklow, before Sunday's home stretch to north Co Dublin town Skerries.
