Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

For professional road cycling, crashes and accidents are inevitable.

No one can guarantee they’ll go their entire career without a single accident.

Crashes like the one at the UAE Tour, happening within the final few hundred meters, just shy of the finish line, are all too common.

Take Astana’s lead sprinter, Mark Cavendish, who was also competing in this race. During a final sprint years ago, he took an elbow from Peter Sagan—then the lead sprinter for the Bora Team—and subsequently fell into a slump that lasted five years.

He even came close to retiring on the spot.

Therefore, strictly speaking, Huang Chong’s crash was just one of the most common types of incidents seen on the World Tour circuit.

Of course, his own analysis was spot-on. If he hadn’t instinctively chosen to ditch his bike to save his skin when he saw the Jieke Team rider barreling toward him, he likely would have gone down with the bike as it tipped, his entire body slamming hard onto the pavement.

If that had happened, the injuries would have been far worse than just a scraped elbow.

He could have suffered extensive bruising over half his body and very likely broken bones.

Although the system space contained two miracle drugs—one for external wounds and one for internal injuries—he had no desire to experience the agony of a severe injury.

Only after applying the system’s wound-healing balm and covering it with the anti-infection ointment provided by the team did Huang Chong return to the team bus.

The results of today’s race were somewhat disappointing.

Unlike the Tour of Australia, where most teams hadn’t sent their truly top-tier sprinters—allowing Welsford to dominate—the strength Quick Step Team’s Merlier displayed in the first stage of the UAE Tour was in a league of its own.

The guy was a monster, worthy of his reputation for schooling Milan in Grand Tours and leaving him to settle for second place time and time again.

Although Welsford took fifth place this stage and earned some points, he was clearly outclassed compared to Merlier in first.

Therefore, it was basically impossible for Aldag to replicate the success from South Australia by sending a nearly identical lineup to the UAE Tour.

"Huang, how’s the injury on your elbow? Is there any swelling or anything after your shower?"

The team manager immediately showed his concern when Huang Chong returned.

With the first stage over, and seeing his lead sprinter was clearly no match for the others, the team manager was under immense pressure.

After just this one race, he could already justify shifting the team’s focus to the general classification.

As for the remaining flat stages, while he would still have Welsford give his all for a stage win, deep down, he wasn’t holding out much hope.

"It’s nothing, boss. Just a small scrape, no swelling. It’ll be fine by tomorrow, I’m sure. It won’t affect the rest of the race."

Huang Chong replied with a smile.

And he was telling the truth. The sharp, stinging pain that usually lingered long after a scrape was now completely gone, thanks to the healing balm.

He could bend his elbow however he wanted without a trace of pain.

But the team manager, of course, didn’t believe him.

Normally, it takes at least five to seven days for a wound to heal, scab over, and fully recover.

But Huang Chong’s casual, unfazed tone earned his admiration.

Most importantly, his trust in Huang Chong was now far greater than Sports Director Aldag’s.

After all, he had also led the team at the Tour of Australia, so he knew exactly how strong Huang Chong was.

However, the race lineups were decided solely by Aldag.

As a team manager in charge of the third-string squad, he had no right or authority to interfere in such matters.

In any case, even if he didn’t dare openly defy Aldag, he knew in his heart that if the team wanted to achieve a decent overall result at the UAE Tour, they could afford to lose their two climbing leaders, Zwiehoff and Buchman, but they absolutely could not lose Huang Chong.

That was why, despite having already heard from Chen Junyi and the team doctor that Huang Chong’s injuries were minor and not a major issue, he still came to check on him personally.

"It’s good that you’re alright. Get a good rest tonight, and try not to bend or swing your arm too much.

As for team training, take a day off. You don’t need to participate.

Tomorrow is the individual time trial. Even though it’s only 12.1 kilometers and a perfectly flat route with zero elevation change, an arm injury can have a huge impact on your ITT performance.

Plus, the UAE team has sent a lineup of almost all time-trial specialists. I’m not expecting you to beat them, but you can’t afford to lose too much time.

Otherwise, it will be too difficult to make that time back in the two high-mountain stages to come!"

Huang Chong was truly surprised that the team manager would pull him aside to say all this.

The manager’s tone wasn’t that of someone addressing a mere domestique; he was speaking to Huang Chong as if he were the team’s GC leader.

Fortunately, the unspoken understanding between adults is a natural thing. It’s about reading between the lines and knowing what’s left unsaid.

He was no longer a reckless youth, so he simply nodded, avoiding any unnecessary or sensitive topics. He just smiled faintly and replied:

"Boss, I understand. Thank you for your concern.