After Huang Chong and the other two returned to headquarters, they found that the team had specially prepared a celebration banquet for them.
Coach Li looked at him, his face filled with admiration and endless emotion.
He had once been the first person to secure an Olympic Games qualification spot for the country. After that, however, several Olympic Games had passed without them managing to earn another qualification.
That showed just how far the country's road cycling program still was from the international level.
And now, a member of his own team had secured a direct qualification spot without even relying on points, and had done so amid fierce competition from nineteen Asian countries.
It could be said that Huang Chong was far more formidable than he had been back then!
At the dinner table, he repeatedly praised him. "Huang Chong, winning this silver medal was truly incredible!
"Not only did you show no fear when facing UCI WorldTour riders, you also dared to launch an attack yourself at the final moment and firmly seize your fate in your own hands.
"With courage like that, I believe you'll definitely make it to the European circuit one day and face those top riders head-on.
"It's truly our team's honor that Hengxiang has had you join us of your own accord!"
For Coach Li, who had always wanted to cultivate more talent and send domestic riders onto the world stage, Huang Chong's runner-up finish at the Asian Championships was undoubtedly the result he most wanted to see.
Although not many people in the country had paid attention to the race, he himself had watched the entire livestream.
So when he saw Huang Chong endure the combined assault of two UCI WorldTour riders until the end, even taking one of them out in