Even the best tactical arrangements only worked if the opponent fell into the trap.
The Hangzhou Team riders had never expected Huang Chong to completely ignore their moves.
Radios were not allowed in a road race, so they could not communicate with the coaching staff.
Thus, shortly after the race entered its middle stages, Wang Bao and the other two had no idea how to respond.
After Zhou Zitong was reeled back in by the peloton, he could only shake his head helplessly and quickly dropped back behind Wang Bao and the other rider, trying to rejoin his team.
Huang Chong had originally been glued tightly to Wang Bao. When he saw Zhou Zitong fall back and give him a strange look, he even smiled at him in a friendly manner.
He even took the initiative to make room for him, allowing him to return behind his teammates.
But in reality, he had already guessed the Hangzhou Team's tactics.
Facing an opponent like him, who had won the ITT championship through sheer strength, there was no way they would not have prepared tactics specifically for him in the road race.
After all, who did not want to be champion?
It was not only about a rider's honor and prize money, but also about whether they could later compete for an official spot on the provincial team.
These Group A riders were all over twenty. If they did not seize this opportunity to become professionals, they could only join amateur teams in the future, race in amateur cycling events, and make a living livestreaming product sales.
These guys actually want to use Jumbo–Visma Team tactics on me, taking turns wearing me down? I'm not Pogačar—
Huang Chong found it amusing as he watched Zhou Zitong drop back in front of him.