Chapter 224 - 148: Since You Want to Create Some Variables, Then Do It
After Huang Chong crossed the line first, the GC Cyclists behind him immediately began their own fierce battle.
Alaphilippe and Narváez had attacked early on the climb to chase him, expending too much energy. They started to run out of steam in the final 50 meters and were overtaken, losing two positions in a row.
In the end, the second rider to cross the line on the Queen Stage was the young British talent from Team DSM: Oscar Onley.
Third place went to the GC leader of the Israel-Premier Tech Team, another British rider: Stephen Williams.
As for the young UAE rider, Del Toro—who had worn the orange leader’s jersey for three stages after his solo victory in Stage 2—he was torn apart by Huang Chong’s sudden attack on the final climb and lost ten seconds at once.
He crossed the line in ninth place, behind Narváez, Alaphilippe, Bart Lemmen, Simon Yates, and Paret Peintre (an AG2R Cyclist), and also lost the orange leader’s jersey.
Therefore, after the riders in the first lead group crossed the line one by one, the General Classification of this year’s Tour of South Australia was completely reshuffled.
The newly crowned King of Willunga, the spoiler of the Queen Stage, Huang Chong, received a 10-second time bonus for his stage win. However, he was still a full 49 seconds behind the current leader in the overall standings, making an overall victory impossible.
On the other hand, the time gaps between the GC Cyclists from the major teams changed dramatically because of his surprise victory.
After five stages, the top five in the current general classification were:
1. Williams 16:08:18
2. Onley +0:04
3. Narváez +0:05
4. Del Toro +0:05
5. Alaphilippe +0:13
...
Of course, Huang Chong—who was currently in the support area being frantically hugged by team staff, including an embrace from Chen Junyi—didn’t care about these results.
His own hopes for the overall title were gone, so no matter how chaotic the situation became, it had nothing to do with him.
It was just the loss of the 500 points for the overall Tour of South Australia championship that truly pained him.
However, he was still very satisfied with winning the most difficult Queen Stage in two consecutive World Tour races (the Tour of Guangxi and the Tour of South Australia), both times with a decisive, lone breakaway sprint on a summit finish, defeating a host of famous World Tour riders.
Now that people had seen he had this ability, it meant he also had the strength to win championships back in Europe, in the various week-long races, including the Grand Tours.
This was also why Pogačar was so ridiculously strong, leagues ahead of every other rider in the world.
The man not only had a high baseline power and strong anaerobic recovery, but more importantly, Mars People also possessed an incredibly explosive burst of speed in a summit sprint.
This was an ability that top-tier Climber Vingegaard didn’t have, and neither did Evenepoel, who excelled in flat time trials.
Eurosport Cycling Channel.
The host, Steve, and his good partner, Jimmy, were still utterly stunned by Huang Chong’s recent performance after the race, unable to compose themselves.
They were silent for a long moment before one of them began to speak in disbelief:
"Jesus Christ!!
What on earth is going on? Jimmy.
I cannot for the life of me understand what the Bora Team’s coaching staff is thinking!
Their team clearly has a top-tier GC Cyclist capable of fighting for the overall victory—I’m talking about Huang Chong from China.
But they had him acting as a water carrier for the four previous stages.
Dammit, how many spectacular moments did we miss because of that ridiculous decision?"
Hearing his partner’s words, Jimmy nodded in deep agreement:
"Yeah, I don’t get what the core of the Bora Team’s strategy is at all.
If the goal at the start of the race was to help their lead sprinter, Welsford, get the blue sprinter’s jersey, then they absolutely didn’t need to make an excellent GC Cyclist like Huang Chong act as a water carrier.
With his terrifying strength, if I were on the coaching staff, I would definitely have had Gamber or Adrià on the team handle support for their teammates!
That way, the team could have smoothly secured the blue sprinter’s jersey while also letting their strongest Climber go for the overall champion’s jersey.
It should have been a perfect win-win situation. Now, to secure that one blue jersey for Welsford, Huang Chong has to be 49 seconds down in the GC.
The Bora Team’s coaching staff really saved the sesame and lost the watermelon—they’ve got their priorities completely backward."
"But regardless, after today’s race, Willunga Hill has welcomed its first new king from China.
At the same time, I think for the entire World Tour, and even for the global world of road cycling, Huang Chong’s powerful arrival will definitely make future races more exciting and colorful.
I’m truly full of anticipation for this rider.
His performance is even more perfect than that of the current number one in road cycling, Tadej Pogačar, in his first race after joining the World Tour.
It’s hard not to be excited about a rider who always reigns supreme on the most difficult Queen Stage.
I can’t wait to see him take the European circuit by storm, and maybe even appear in a three-week Grand Tour.
If his rival at the finish line were Tadej Pogačar, how would he perform then?"
"Steve, you’ve said exactly what’s on my mind.
I’m also looking forward to seeing him on the Grand Tour stage after he’s gained enough experience.
But without a doubt, as a rider who has just entered the World Tour, he hasn’t yet been tested by any of the high mountains of Europe. For now, the Grand Tours are still a long way off.