Chapter Summaries

After winning the Vuelta a España, Huang Chong handled interviews and celebrations, then took a brief vacation with Chen Junyi before returning to training in Germany. He prepared for the Road World Championships in Zurich, where he faced the challenge of competing alone for China against riders with stronger teams.

• Huang Chong credited his team, supporters, and gradual training for his Vuelta a España victory, while refusing to offer reporters false shortcuts to success.
• News of Huang Chong's Grand Tour title spread across China, and his win brought him media attention, sponsorship interest, and a million-euro bonus with a higher future salary.
• Huang Chong skipped the Canadian one-day races and took vacation while Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe sent a lineup led by Hindley.
• Huang Chong accompanied Chen Junyi to Birmingham, helped her settle in, and signed autographs for her classmates before returning to Germany.
• Huang Chong resumed training for the Road World Championships in Zurich, where he planned to race for China despite having no teammates and facing Pogačar, Van der Poel, and other rivals.

Huang Chong reunited with Coach Han and prepared for the World Championships after parting from Chen Junyi, who returned to graduate school and began studying sports agency to support his career. He reviewed the formidable ITT field ahead of the opening competition, while his chances in the road race remained uncertain.

• Huang Chong said goodbye to Chen Junyi at the airport, and she asked to meet his parents when they next returned to China; he agreed and returned to Germany with her recipe book.
• Huang Chong discovered the detailed recipes Chen Junyi had prepared, while Chen Junyi began studying sports agency alongside her graduate work.
• Huang Chong rejoined his team for training and considered the difficult World Championships road race, where he would compete without teammates.
• Huang Chong traveled to Switzerland, met Coach Han, and thanked him for arranging his national rewards and athlete ranking.
• Coach Han gave Huang Chong the men's elite ITT entry list, and Huang Chong saw that the field included leading time trialists such as Evenepoel, Ganna, and Roglič.

Huang Chong rode the World Championships ITT in Zurich despite starting early and having the road race as his main focus. He finished in 53 minutes and 9.63 seconds, temporarily taking first place and putting enormous pressure on the later starters.

• Coach Han advised Huang Chong to ride hard without risking his condition for the road race, and Huang Chong agreed to do his best.
• Huang Chong started thirtieth on the 46.1-kilometer course, with commentators noting that the early start could let top riders use his splits as benchmarks.
• Huang Chong reached the first time check in 13 minutes and 40 seconds, beating the earlier riders' times by dozens of seconds.
• Huang Chong dominated the rolling climbs and passed two riders before reaching the second time check in 32 minutes and 5 seconds.
• Huang Chong overtook two more riders on the final stretch and finished in 53 minutes and 9.63 seconds, taking provisional first place with a 52-kilometer-per-hour average speed.
• Primož Roglič, Ganna, and Evenepoel prepared to start under pressure from Huang Chong's time, while retaining the advantage of using his splits as references.

Huang Chong fought for the World Championships ITT title, but Remco Evenepoel and Ganna passed him in the final standings. He won bronze, giving China its first road cycling medal, and turned his attention to the upcoming road race.

• Huang Chong set a blistering early time and stayed ahead of the field through the first intermediate checks.
• Evenepoel beat Huang Chong at the first check, but Huang Chong gained an advantage on the long climb and led him by four seconds at the second check.
• Ganna and Evenepoel made up time on the final flat stretch, and Ganna overtook Roglič near the finish.
• Evenepoel finished eight seconds ahead of Huang Chong to defend his ITT gold, while Ganna edged Huang Chong by one second for silver.
• Huang Chong accepted his bronze medal, and Coach Han encouraged him to focus on the road race and try again next year.

After Huang Chong narrowly missed a medal in the World Championships ITT, he prepared for the elite road race, where he would represent China alone against heavily supported cycling powerhouses. He saw a possible path to victory by surviving the climbs and staying with Pogačar, but the race had not yet begun.

• Evenepoel and Ganna overtook Huang Chong near the end of the ITT, leaving Evenepoel the champion and Huang Chong deeply concerning both rivals with his performance.
• Tang Xin and Zhou Qiuying finished 52nd and 53rd in the women's ITT, while Grace Brown won; China later placed 14th in the mixed team TTT without Huang Chong.
• Zeng Luyao, Tang Xin, and Zhou Qiuying all failed to finish the women's road race, which Lotte Kopecky won.
• Coach Han encouraged Huang Chong before the men's elite road race, while Huang Chong recognized that China had entered him as its only rider against stacked national teams.
• Huang Chong reviewed the course and concluded that if he could stay with Pogačar through the climbs, he might still have a chance to win.

Huang Chong rode the World Championships road race alone for China, conserving energy while Slovenia controlled the early pace and repeatedly shut down attacks. The race reached Kyburg, where a five-rider breakaway finally formed, as broadcasters singled Huang Chong out as a possible threat to Pogačar.

• The 206-rider field started in Winterthur, and Huang Chong stayed near the back to save energy for the long race.
• Slovenia controlled the peloton, and its domestiques quickly caught the first two breakaway attempts.
• Commentators Steve and Jimmy explained Slovenia’s tactics and predicted that Kyburg would offer the best chance for a successful attack.
• On Kyburg, Dillier, Olivia, Piotr Pękala, Wirtgen, and Tobias Foss attacked, and Slovenia and Belgium let the five riders go.
• The breakaway built a lead of one minute and thirty seconds while Huang Chong stayed with the peloton and avoided attacking.
• International commentators praised Huang Chong as a potential rival to Pogačar, though he remained unaware of the attention.

Huang Chong followed Pogačar’s attack with 101 kilometers remaining in the World Championships, then rode with him and Tratnik to catch the leading breakaway. The trio joined the front group with 91 kilometers left, while the peloton trailed nearly a minute behind.

• The Foss group’s lead grew beyond five minutes as the race reached the Zurich Central Circuit, where Slovenia Team began controlling the peloton.
• Castrillo attacked on a steep climb during the third lap, but Belgium Team’s riders quickly brought him back and the peloton was reduced to a few dozen riders.
• With 126 kilometers remaining, nine key domestiques attacked and soon caught the Foss group, while Huang Chong had no teammates to help him respond.
• Pogačar and Huang Chong attacked together with 101 kilometers left, dropping Quinn Simmons and Bagioli on the climb.
• Tratnik left the breakaway to meet Pogačar, then led him and Huang Chong back to the front group with 91 kilometers remaining.

Huang Chong survived Pogačar’s attacks in the World Championships road race, caught him on the final descent, and beat him in the sprint to win. The chapter ended with Huang Chong crossing the finish line ahead of Pogačar.

• Pogačar and Huang Chong attacked from the peloton with a hundred kilometers remaining, joining the breakaway group as Tratnik led them away.
• After Tratnik exhausted himself, Pogačar attacked on the climb, and only Sivakov and Huang Chong stayed with him.
• Pogačar and Sivakov worked together to wear Huang Chong down until Pogačar dropped Sivakov and continued attacking Huang Chong.
• On the final climb, Pogačar opened a gap on Huang Chong, but Huang Chong caught him on the descent and held his wheel over the last short climb.
• Huang Chong sprinted past Pogačar in the final meters and won the race.

Huang Chong celebrated his World Championships victory after narrowly beating Pogačar in a final sprint, then reflected on the race and his future during an interview. He received the gold medal and Rainbow Jersey on the podium, with Ben O'Connor taking bronze.

• Huang Chong's victory over Pogačar sparked nationwide celebrations, and Coach Han and the national team embraced him at the finish.
• Huang Chong explained that he had nearly lost after Pogačar dropped him, but the course layout and his energy-saving drafting helped him fight back.
• A race reporter interviewed Huang Chong, who praised Pogačar, declined to predict future wins, and said he wanted to rest before deciding what came next.
• Huang Chong said the desire to create possibilities drove him and thanked his fans, team, family, and rivals for inspiring him.
• Huang Chong, Pogačar, and bronze medalist Ben O'Connor stood on the podium, where Huang Chong received the gold medal and Rainbow Jersey.

After winning the World Championships, Huang Chong reunited with his former teammates, returned to Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe, and discussed his final races of the season. Aldag asked him to choose between Il Lombardia and the Tour of Guangxi, since Huang Chong could not safely race both.

• Huang Chong celebrated his World Championships victory with Xue Ming and the national team riders, then encouraged them to keep supporting Chinese road cycling.
• Huang Chong parted ways with Coach Han and the national team at the Swiss airport and returned to Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe, where Ralph Denk and the team welcomed him back.
• Primož Roglič reflected on losing the World Championships after Pogačar was beaten by his own teammate.
• Aldag visited Huang Chong to discuss his health and schedule, explaining that he had to choose between Il Lombardia and the Tour of Guangxi.

After defeating Tadej Pogačar at the World Championships, Huang Chong chose the Tour of Guangxi over Il Lombardia so he could race in China and meet his fans. His return sparked huge excitement, and crowds gathered to welcome him when his team landed in Nanning.

• Huang Chong told Aldag he could race one more event and chose the Tour of Guangxi, so Aldag assigned Primož Roglič to Il Lombardia and arranged a domestique squad for Huang Chong.
• Aldag finalized both race rosters, giving Roglič a powerful lineup for Il Lombardia while Huang Chong privately noted that his Tour of Guangxi support squad was more modest.
• Huang Chong celebrated his birthday with Chen Junyi, then packed for China and departed with his teammates after she returned to the United Kingdom.
• Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe announced the rosters, prompting Chinese fans to celebrate Huang Chong's homecoming and discuss ways to watch him race in Guangxi.
• The Tour of Guangxi organizers promoted VIP spectator packages, and a large crowd of fans welcomed Huang Chong and his team when their plane landed in Nanning.

Huang Chong arrived in Guangxi to a huge welcome from fans and prepared for the Tour of Guangxi, while his relatives and friends traveled there to see him. After reuniting with his cousins and meeting their university cycling club, he invited them to join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s group training ride.

• Huang Chong greeted airport fans, signed autographs, and thanked them before leaving for his hotel with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
• Huang Chong’s teammates praised his popularity and promised to help him pursue another Tour of Guangxi title.
• Huang Chong and his team watched Il Lombardia, where Pogačar won, Evenepoel finished second, and Primož Roglič placed fifth.
• Huang Xiaocong, Huang Lingshan, Du Wei, and Huang Xiaocong’s roommates traveled to Guangxi and met Huang Chong over a barbecue meal.
• Huang Chong learned that Huang Xiaocong and his roommates had built a cycling club at Xiamen University and invited them to join the team’s group training ride.

Two days before the Tour of Guangxi, Huang Chong met fans and friends before leading a team training ride through a city packed with supporters. The overwhelming turnout highlighted his growing influence and left his teammates imagining a much larger future for professional cycling in China.

• Huang Chong arrived in Guangxi as the defending champion and overwhelming favorite, while fans filled hotels and campsites across the race cities.
• Du Wei, Zhou Ming, and Li Zifan joined Huang Chong’s VIP group ride, and they discussed his rise, his commercial value, and his chances against Pogačar.
• Huang Chong greeted his friends and promised to pace them during the casual training ride.
• Huang Chong led the fans and his domestiques onto closed roads, where huge crowds cheered him in the Rainbow Jersey.
• Huang Chong’s teammates were astonished by the turnout and considered how China’s market, roads, and terrain could support more top-level races.

Huang Chong led a fan group ride in Guangxi, where Du Wei struggled to keep pace and bickered with Zhou Ming before Huang stopped their attempted showdown. After the event spread widely online, the teams finished their final training day and the Tour of Guangxi was about to begin in Fangchenggang.

• Huang Chong kept the fan ride at a steady pace while Du Wei struggled on a gentle climb and argued with Zhou Ming.
• Huang Chong refused to accelerate for their proposed contest, and the group completed its 60-kilometer ride without incident.
• A cycling group owner shared footage and described meeting Huang Chong, who had given him signed memorabilia, including a Rainbow Jersey and a gold helmet.
• The ride videos spread across social media, while fans reacted with excitement and envy in the group chats.
• Huang Chong and his teammates completed their final training day, and the Tour of Guangxi was set to begin with a city circuit race in Fangchenggang.

Huang Chong began the 2024 Tour of Guangxi as defending champion, but Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe kept him out of the opening stage’s risky bunch sprint. The stage ended with Huang Chong safely finishing in the peloton as the race moved on to the climbing stages where he could pursue the overall title.

• Huang Chong arrived in Fangchenggang in his Rainbow Jersey and led the peloton through the ceremonial start of the opening circuit stage.
• Two riders broke away and claimed the intermediate sprint points while Huang Chong stayed sheltered in the peloton.
• Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe declined to help control the race because its goal was Huang Chong’s overall title, not the points classification.
• The peloton caught Eregots with 20 kilometers remaining, while De Wolf continued alone in front.
• Huang Chong did not contest the final bunch sprint and crossed the finish safely with the peloton and no time gap.

Huang Chong rode conservatively through the first four stages of the Tour of Guangxi, while sprinter Ethan Vernon took two stage wins and built a twenty-second lead in the general classification. As worried fans questioned Huang Chong’s chances, Du Wei predicted that he would erase the deficit on the upcoming Nongla Mountain climb.

• After Taminio won the opening stage, Du Wei and Zhou Ming defended Huang Chong’s decision not to contest the flat sprint, and Li Zifan advised the disappointed fans to watch stage five at Nongla Mountain.
• On stage two, a high-speed crash with about seventy meters left caused Narváez, Stefan, Vader, Milan, and other riders to abandon; Du Wei and Zhou Ming used it to explain why Huang Chong avoided sprint risks.
• Huang Chong finished the third stage safely as Ethan Vernon beat Juan Sebastián Molano in the sprint and took the stage victory.
• Ethan Vernon won again on stage four, putting him twenty seconds ahead of Huang Chong in the general classification.
• When fans worried that Huang Chong had fallen too far behind, Du Wei said the Nongla Mountain summit finish would let him overturn the deficit.

Huang Chong prepared to defend his Tour of Guangxi title on the decisive Nongla Mountain stage, where rain and a steep summit finish threatened to complicate the race. As the riders set off, commentators praised Huang Chong as the overwhelming favorite, leaving fans eager to see his performance on the final climb.

• Huang Chong identified Sivakov, Wellens, Onley, Lennert Van Eetvelt, and Quinn Simmons as his main rivals after several contenders withdrew.
• On the morning of October 19, Huang Chong told a reporter he would give everything on the stage’s decisive Nongla Mountain climb and avoided predicting a victory.
• The fifth stage began in rain, while commentators discussed the slippery roads and hoped the riders would reach Nongla in clearer weather.
• Director Li named Wellens, Sivakov, Onley, and Lennert Van Eetvelt as possible challengers, while Coach Xiao predicted that no one but Pogačar could beat Huang Chong on the final climb.
• Fans waiting on Nongla Mountain watched the broadcast and grew eager to witness Huang Chong race up the steep final stretch.

Huang Chong’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team spent the stage controlling the breakaway before he began the Nongla Mountain climb without domestique support. He dropped his rivals on the steep final slopes and charged toward the finish alone.

• Four riders, including Koen Bouwman, Jonas Rutsch, Stefan Bissegger, and Warre Vangheluwe, broke away as Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe controlled the peloton.
• With his domestiques exhausted and other teams refusing to help, Huang Chong instructed them to keep the breakaway in check and said he would handle the final climb alone.
• Aleotti led Huang Chong onto Nongla Mountain, caught the EF Education riders, then cracked and left Huang Chong at the front of the peloton.
• Huang Chong increased his power while seated, caught Bouwman, and led the other teams’ leaders to the Nongla archway.
• Sivakov attacked on the steep final section, but Huang Chong followed, dropped him with a hard seated effort, and began pulling away from the remaining rivals.

Huang Chong won the Nongla Mountain stage by dropping his rivals on the final climb and took the Tour of Guangxi overall lead. With the final Qingxiu Mountain circuit race approaching, Du Wei and his companions chose to watch Huang Chong on the climb, expecting him to attack again.

• Huang Chong crossed the Nongla Mountain finish line first, nearly a minute ahead of Lennert Van Eetvelt and Onley, and secured the overall leader's Red Jersey.
• Huang Chong thanked his team and fans, then told the race host that his victory in Guangxi brought him happiness and gave him a strong position to defend his title.
• A cycling group administrator shared footage of Huang Chong's attack and announced he would film the final Qingxiu Mountain stage.
• Du Wei told Zhou Ming and Li Zifan that Huang Chong would likely attack on the demanding Qingxiu Mountain climb, and they decided to watch there.

On the final day of the 2024 UCI WorldTour season, Huang Chong chose to risk his Tour of Guangxi overall lead in pursuit of a stage victory on the Qingxiu Mountain circuit. After his team controlled the race and cleared the breakaways, he attacked on the final climb, with Lennert Van Eetvelt and Onley trying to follow.

• Before the race, Huang Chong told Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's directeur sportif he wanted to attack for the final stage win despite already having the overall title secured.
• Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe controlled the peloton while riders, including Wellens, contested the mountain points.
• After four laps, Aleotti helped bring the breakaway riders back before Huang Chong launched his attack at the foot of Qingxiu Mountain.
• Lennert Van Eetvelt and Onley responded to Huang Chong's attack on the gentler opening section of the climb.
• As they reached the steep seventeen-percent ramp, Huang Chong rose out of the saddle and powered forward to drop them.