Sprinters can snooze a bit, this one is for climbers!
Second hardest stage in terms of climbing and massively important for those targeting Black 
Jersey. There are 5 climbs to deal with and 30 KOM points to grab. That’s almost one quarter of the entire 9 week points budget.
Funny, we will be riding in the suburbs of London, and yet this stage has almost zero of flat road. The only single kilometer of flat is the first kilometer out of pens until subway enter, everything else is either up or down. And even more significantly, these climbs are hard. They are long and steep enough to split the blob into pieces right on the first climb of the day, the nasty Fox hill. Don’t expect even small groups coming into the finish here, its impossible. In the best case we will see 2 riders coming together into the finish, maybe even sprinting for the last banner at the top of Fox Hill, but more probably everyone will finish for himself. Depleted after some 70-90min of hard and sharp climbing. Without any doubt, we will see who the main protagonist for black jersey is, and the favorite for the black at the end as well.
This stage will be hard for those with an eye on yellow 
also. They might not need to spend energy by attacking at the climbs or sprinting on hill-top banners like black jersey hunters, but still, they have to be able to follow the strongest and finish very high in the end.
The only group of riders who can take it easier is a group of sprinters and the 
jersey. This is one of two stages with no points for sprints so they can form a nice gruppetto and chat while others will be drowning in their sweat and pain.
From stage 2 onwards, our Dress code comes to effect. Please read it carefully and don’t forget: fight for the Jersey!
All categories 
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will do 1 lap, 46km distance and 1029m of altitude altogether.
Race happens on Sunday 2.2.2020 at 10.30 CET (10.30 AM CET)
Here is the VeloViewer 3D map of the course.
Have you ridden the course before? The easiest way is to check the segment in your Strava account.