Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

As a senior technical director for a World Tour Team, he undoubtedly viewed cyclists from multiple angles. His most frequent habit was to assess a rider’s performance from a long-term perspective.

In his view, a rookie rider achieving a great result in a single race could be a fluke.

For instance, the rider might be in peak form, or their opponents might be having an off day. Both scenarios could contribute to a victory.

But for a rider to maintain powerful dominance over a quarter, or even an entire season—while also excelling at one-day races, multi-day races, and ITT events—was incredibly difficult.

You definitely couldn’t do that without some serious talent.

After all, the only rider to date who could perform at a top level in every single aspect was Tadej Pogačar of the UAE Team.

In any case, their Jumbo Team’s Core Commander, Vingegaard, only excelled at multi-day races with high mountain climbs. When it came to one-day classics or flat stages, he simply couldn’t compare.

However, the pile of victories Huang Chong had accumulated this year made the Jumbo Team’s director, as well as all the other directors and team managers currently reviewing his profile, realize one thing clearly: this young man was basically the Chinese version of Tadej Pogačar.

This was because his list of victories included not only one-day races and ITT wins, but also the overall championship of the Tour of Qinghai Lake—an eight-day race where he personally won three stages!

"Director, looking at his average finishing speed, this Chinese rider’s strength might not yet be at the level of a top World Tour cyclist. But he’s very well-rounded in every aspect. He’s a lot like our rival."

The Jumbo Team’s director knew exactly which rival the Data Analyst was talking about.

After all, there was only one rider that Jumbo considered a true rival.

But similarities in rider profile were one thing. To actually make him believe Huang Chong could one day reach Pogačar’s level... that was something he would never, and could never, bring himself to admit.

There was only one Pogačar. He was a truly generational talent—the most versatile rider the sport of road cycling had seen since its inception. A talent that comes once in a century.

Now, the Data Analyst was comparing the two, essentially suggesting that another all-around GC Cyclist might be emerging in this era—and a Chinese one at that.

As a white European of the old guard, the arrogance baked into his bones wouldn’t allow his thoughts to stray in that direction. He replied directly:

"Impossible.

This Chinese rider only won a single climbing championship on the Nongla Stage.

Are you kidding me, comparing him to the most versatile and outstanding cyclist of our era?"

"Uh—Director, that’s not what I meant. You know my job. I was just comparing the riders based on their data profiles—"

The Data Analyst shrugged and, after a moment’s thought, asked:

"But what’s your take on this Chinese cyclist?

Should our team consider signing him?"

The director frowned upon hearing the question.

To be honest, his team had just had their planned stage victory snatched away. The idea of immediately trying to sign the person who’d done it didn’t sit well with him.

He thought for a moment before replying:

"It’s too early to think about that. There are still two stages left in this race. Don’t forget our objective.

Instead of considering whether to sign this Chinese cyclist, we should be focused on helping Vader turn things around in the overall standings over the next two stages.

The Tour of Guangxi is the final race of the entire season. Before we left, the team owner and shareholders made it clear they expect us to end the season on a perfect note.

We must complete the team’s mission first. Only then can we consider the team’s future development."

The Data Analyst understood the implication and could only say:

"Understood, Director."

...

After successfully winning the stage, Huang Chong waited at the summit for nearly eight and a half minutes before his four teammates finally arrived, struggling across the finish line.

Brother Xiaoma and the other three didn’t even stop to rest. They rushed over to give Huang Chong, whose body had already cooled down, huge hugs, then began congratulating him excitedly.

"Fucking awesome, kid! You really made us proud!"

"Bro, you’re an absolute beast! When Coach Han told us over the radio that you’d won, honestly, we were all stunned!"

"Hey, hey, Coach Chen! Quick, let us see the replay! I want to see how Huang Chong won on that final climb. Riding up here just now, I seriously felt like my legs weren’t even mine anymore!"

"Totally. If I wasn’t afraid of the time cut, I seriously would’ve gotten off and pushed my bike the last five hundred meters."

Hearing the requests from Brother Xiaoma and the others, Chen Junyi readily agreed. She smiled, took out her tablet, and played the aerial footage of the summit sprint between Huang Chong and Vader Milan over the final 500 meters.

The result was predictable. The four of them watched in awe as, on an 8.7% gradient, the guy stood up and rocked his bike like a giant lizard, making it look as easy as riding on flat ground. They were completely and utterly shocked!

"Holy crap, what kind of legs are those? Are you insane, kid?!"

Brother Xiaoma saw that Huang Chong had completed that insane anaerobic climb in just over a minute, and his scalp tingled.

As an athlete himself, he knew that for Huang Chong to sustain an anaerobic attack for over a minute, it wasn’t just about having exceptionally strong legs.

More importantly, the kid had to have unparalleled cardiovascular capacity. Otherwise, it would have been impossible.

"Sigh, there’s actually not much to be happy about."

Huang Chong heard his teammates’ congratulations, but by now his own excitement had faded and he’d already calmed down.

He continued:

"There are still two more stages tomorrow and the day after. You should have seen the looks on the faces of those World Tour Team coaches when I crossed the line first.

Every single one of them was glaring daggers. It’s obvious they’re going to target me in the next two stages.

I’m already stressing about how to defend an advantage that’s barely a gap at all."

The four of them were rendered speechless by his words.

’My god, what an absolute try-hard!’

’He just won, hasn’t even been on the podium yet, and he’s already strategizing for the next race day.’

Of course, their silence wasn’t just because they couldn’t compete with Huang Chong’s drive. It was also because, at this point in the race, huge gaps had opened up between them in the overall standings.

And with those gaps came the reality that their own energy was nearly spent. They wouldn’t be able to provide any substantial help to Huang Chong in the final two days of the race.

"Don’t overthink it. Just do your best,"

Chen Junyi, seeing how Huang Chong’s unintentional words had doused his teammates’ enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water, quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

Coach Han came over and patted Huang Chong’s shoulder, speaking frankly.

"Coach Chen is right. Winning the Nongla Stage is already an outstanding achievement.

The last two stages have difficult climbs, but as long as you don’t get dropped on the climbs, it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to drop you on the flats.

You just need to keep a close watch on Vader Milan and Rochas Rémy. Everyone else is at least twenty seconds behind you.

I just took a good look at the top ten finishers on the Nongla Stage. They’re mostly Climbers. You managed to beat Lutsenko at Qiandao Lake; you can definitely fend off their attacks."

Huang Chong knew Coach Han was just trying to comfort him. After all, the situation with Lutsenko was completely different from the Tour of Guangxi.

He had intentionally isolated Lutsenko for a one-on-one duel. Here at the Tour of Guangxi, all the teams were still mostly intact.

If other teams worked together, launching wave after wave of attacks to wear him down, he’d be fighting against many, and it was entirely possible he could get dropped.

But tomorrow’s problems were for tomorrow.

Once all the riders had completed the Nongla Mountain climb, Huang Chong was escorted by the organizers to the podium for the awards ceremony.

After today, he had not only earned the stage winner’s prize of 11,000 euros, but he had also taken the overall leader’s Red Jersey from De Bondt.

And after Huang Chong received his awards, it was a double victory for the China Team. Su Haoyu, who had been in the breakaway for almost the entire stage, successfully won the day’s combativity award.

When news of these two victories hit the internet, the cycling fans who couldn’t be there in person but had been following the race online went absolutely wild!