The race continued toward Laji Mountain Pass.
As the altitude climbed past 3,000 meters, Huang Chong, who had been firmly tucked behind the four foreign breakaway riders, immediately noticed pained expressions appearing on their faces.
Yet at this altitude, he felt no effects at all.
After being enhanced with medication, his cardiopulmonary capacity had fully adapted to environmental changes across different altitudes.
After breaking away, Huang Chong was indeed doing exactly what the riders from the other domestic Continental teams had assumed—trying to steal an early advantage in the second stage and seize the initiative in the general classification.
After all, once today's stage was over, he might never get another opportunity like this throughout the rest of his professional career.
There was no reason not to take such an advantage.
However, at the 3,000-meter point, they were still far from Laji Mountain Pass.
They still had at least another sixteen or seventeen kilometers to ride.
He could not possibly launch an attack from so far out.
Otherwise, once the peloton reacted and organized a chase, he would definitely be unable to get away.
Chen Junyi's support vehicle was closely following behind him.
UCI-level professional races allowed teams and riders to maintain radio communication.
Coach Han was naturally in the vehicle as well, but as the head coach, he needed to monitor the riding conditions of the entire team.
So most of the time, he left Chen Junyi to communicate with Huang Chong on her own.
The two of them spent every day together, racing together and training together. They had long since developed a deep understanding.
Moreover, Chen Junyi had become a professional team staff member. Having her handle communications with Huang Chong alone could not have been more appropriate.
"Huang Chong, your gap to the peloton is currently