Recaps

Huang Chong dominated the Vuelta a España, winning the overall title and six stages before taking bronze in the World Championships time trial. He then prepared to face the stacked field in the road race as China’s only rider.

• Huang Chong returned from Olympic gold and was named Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe’s Vuelta leader after Primož Roglič was kept out to recover.
• Huang Chong won the opening time trial and then took the Red Jersey with a decisive attack on Pico Villuercas, beginning a series of wins and attacks that built his lead over Ben O'Connor and the other GC contenders.
• Huang Chong managed Ben O'Connor’s Stage 6 breakaway threat, then won stages on the steep finishes at Cuitu Negru and Alto de Moncalvillo as his overall lead grew to more than eleven minutes.
• Food poisoning depleted Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe on the queen stage, but Huang Chong helped Lipowitz before winning his sixth stage on Picón Blanco.
• Huang Chong beat Stefan Küng in the final time trial to win Stage 21 and the Vuelta overall, while Lipowitz finished seventh and Huang Chong raised his FTP to 476 watts.
• After resting and training for the World Championships, Huang Chong took provisional first in the elite time trial but finished third behind Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna.
• Huang Chong watched China’s other World Championships events unfold and prepared for the road race as the country’s sole entrant, concluding that he needed to stay with Pogačar on the climbs to have a chance to win.