Chapter Summaries

Huang Chong won the race and discovered that his system had rewarded him with fifty cases of electrolyte sports drinks, which he arranged to have refilled directly into his cycling bottle. Du Wei learned that Huang Chong had beaten Zhou Ming and mocked him at the finish line.

• Huang Chong inspected his system reward and found fifty cases of electrolyte drinks in storage.
• Huang Chong set the system to refill his cycling bottle with the drink and tasted the smooth orange-flavored beverage.
• Little Rice Grain told Zhou Ming's four domestiques that Huang Chong had beaten Zhou Ming by a bike length, leaving them afraid of Zhou's reaction.
• Du Wei crossed the finish line more than twenty minutes after Huang Chong and learned that Huang Chong had won.
• Du Wei laughed at Zhou Ming for losing after bringing five riders to gang up on Huang Chong, and Zhou Ming had no answer.

After losing the climbing race to Huang Chong, Zhou Ming accepted the result and paid Little Rice Grain the prize money, then decided to challenge Huang Chong on a flat course. Huang Chong collected his winnings, unaware Zhou Ming planned to race him again.

• Zhou Ming admitted Huang Chong had beaten him on the climb and told Little Rice Grain to send her WeChat so he could transfer the prize money.
• Zhou Ming reassured his four hired riders that they had done their best and asked whether Huang Chong could become a professional cyclist.
• The hired riders judged Huang Chong's climbing exceptional but pointed out his weaknesses on flat roads, in sprinting, and in upper-body strength.
• Zhou Ming decided to train his flat-road cruising and challenge Huang Chong again the following weekend.
• Huang Chong's FTP rose to 263W, and Little Rice Grain sent him the after-tax champion's prize of 28,888.

After winning the Qiandao Lake race, Huang Chong continued his rapid weight loss and reassured his friends that his power had not declined. He led Wang Qiang, Liu Junjie, and Chen Guangming through routine training at an astonishing 37 km/h average, leaving them struggling to keep up.

• Huang Chong and Du Wei discussed Zhou Ming’s riding ability, and Huang Chong said controlling weight was essential for improving on climbs.
• Du Wei refused to lose weight and joked that he would stick to flat roads instead.
• Back in Hangzhou, Liu Junjie and Wang Qiang were shocked that Huang Chong had dropped from 75 kilograms to 62.5 in a week.
• Huang Chong assured Wang Qiang, Liu Junjie, and Chen Guangming that his power remained steady and that his power-to-weight ratio had improved.
• Huang Chong led the group at a 37 km/h average during Zone 2 training, pushing the others toward Zone 4 effort.

Huang Chong focused on Zone 2 training and accidentally pulled Wang Qiang, Liu Junjie, and Chen Guangming through 100 kilometers at an average speed of 37 km/h. His companions discovered his heart rate stayed around 140 at that pace and urged him to get a power meter to measure the gap between them.

• Huang Chong realized his comfortable Zone 2 pace of 37 km/h was pushing Wang Qiang and the others near their Zone 4 threshold.
• Huang Chong apologized and offered to slow down, but Liu Junjie insisted that he keep riding at his own comfortable pace.
• Huang Chong led the group for 100 kilometers over nearly three hours while Wang Qiang, Liu Junjie, and Chen Guangming grew exhausted.
• Chen Guangming checked Huang Chong's bike computer and saw that his heart rate had stayed around 140 despite the high average speed.
• Liu Junjie urged Huang Chong to buy a power meter so they could learn how strong he had become.

Huang Chong planned to upgrade his bicycle as his abilities improved, while Zhang Yi learned about his remarkable riding data and began to suspect he was a cycling prodigy. Zhang Yi decided to test Huang Chong’s true ability, though he worried that Huang Chong might pursue a professional career before helping the team win amateur honors.

• Huang Chong considered buying a better bike and a power meter so teams could assess his abilities from accurate data.
• Wang Qiang sent Zhang Yi Huang Chong’s ride data, including an average speed of 37 and a heart rate of 140.
• Zhang Yi compared the data with Huang Chong’s performance the previous week and doubted that such a dramatic improvement was possible.
• Wang Qiang assured Zhang Yi that the data was genuine and said Chen Guangming and Liu Junjie had witnessed the ride.
• Zhang Yi concluded Huang Chong might be a cycling prodigy and decided to ride with him one-on-one to test his ability.
• Zhang Yi wondered whether Huang Chong would become a professional rider before winning amateur championships for the team.

Zhang Yi decided to test Huang Chong’s cycling ability at Taihu Lake after discussing his potential with Chen Li. As Huang Chong prepared to travel to Suzhou, Zhou Ming ordered another bike and challenged him to a rematch.

• Chen Li urged Zhang Yi to verify Huang Chong’s talent and guide him toward the provincial team if he proved capable.
• Zhang Yi invited Huang Chong to join the team’s Taihu Lake race next week and train there over the weekend.
• Huang Chong accepted the race slot and agreed to attend the Taihu Lake training.
• Zhou Ming visited Du Wei’s shop to order a Cervelo S5 and challenged Huang Chong to a flat-stage race the next morning.

Huang Chong refused Zhou Ming’s offer to race the next day and join Hangzhou’s municipal cycling team, choosing instead to honor his team commitments and pursue his career through his own efforts. Zhou Ming accepted the refusal, admired Huang Chong’s integrity, and decided to take his own team to Suzhou.

• Zhou Ming invited Huang Chong to race him the next day, but Huang Chong declined because he had team training and a race in Suzhou.
• Zhou Ming offered to arrange Huang Chong’s entry into Hangzhou’s municipal team and buy him any Tour de France team bike if he won, but Huang Chong refused the deal.
• Huang Chong explained that he did not want to rely on Zhou Ming’s money or abandon the Headwind Cycling Team, then left to catch the high-speed train to Suzhou.
• Du Wei tried to smooth things over and apologize for Huang Chong, but Zhou Ming asked whether being straightforward and lacking social etiquette was truly a bad thing.
• Zhou Ming said he admired Huang Chong, hoped he would reach the Grand Tours and five Monuments, and announced that he would take his own team to compete in Suzhou.

After Zhou Ming followed Huang Chong to Suzhou to challenge him in another cycling race, Huang Chong arrived with his weight down to 60 kg and his FTP at 270W. His teammates urged him to gain weight and strengthen his upper body, prompting the system to issue three new muscle-training missions.

• Du Wei told Huang Chong that Zhou Ming was heading to Suzhou to race against him, and Huang Chong agreed to face him in the open competition.
• Huang Chong noted that his weight had fallen to 60 kg and his FTP had risen to 270W, but he planned to regain about 5 kg because he looked too thin.
• Huang Chong traveled to Suzhou and met Zhang Yi, Wang Qiang, Liu Junjie, and three female teammates, who were startled by his physique.
• Liu Junjie questioned Huang Chong about his unusual muscle distribution, and Zhang Yi advised him to build his chest, back, and glutes for better power and stability.
• The system issued Huang Chong chest, back, and glute training missions, which he realized would require gym equipment and professional guidance.

Zhang Yi tested Huang Chong’s cycling ability during a training ride on the Taihu Lake race course. Huang Chong kept pace through an intense effort, convincing Zhang Yi that he had the potential to become a professional rider and perhaps reach the UCI WorldTour.

• Huang Chong and the Headwind Cycling Team warmed up for fifty kilometers alongside other riders scouting the Taihu Lake race route.
• Zhang Yi challenged Huang Chong to follow his pace, then accelerated above 40 kilometers per hour and tested him at high intensity.
• Huang Chong stayed on Zhang Yi’s wheel at around 48 kilometers per hour for twenty minutes, despite nearing his limit.
• Zhang Yi asked Huang Chong to take the lead, and Huang Chong used a Fast-acting Recovery Energy Bar before pulling at roughly 45 kilometers per hour.
• Zhang Yi watched Huang Chong continue riding near threshold and concluded that his exceptional cardiopulmonary capacity could take him to the professional level, possibly even the UCI WorldTour.

After Huang Chong sustained a hard 100-kilometer ride, Zhang Yi explained how he could pursue a professional cycling career and advised him to take an exercise cardiopulmonary test. Huang Chong sent Zhang Yi the results, and Zhang Yi reacted with shock and excitement at the figures.

• After Huang Chong’s energy returned, he maintained Zone 4 intensity and completed 100 kilometers alongside Zhang Yi.
• Zhang Yi asked whether Huang Chong wanted to become a professional rider, and Huang Chong said he did.
• Zhang Yi explained that Huang Chong should join a city-level team first and outlined the selection process.
• Zhang Yi advised Huang Chong to take an exercise cardiopulmonary test so he could assess his potential.
• After returning to Hangzhou, Huang Chong took the test and sent the results to Zhang Yi, whose hands trembled as he read the figures.

Zhang Yi showed Chen Li the astonishing cardiopulmonary test results of young cyclist Huang Chong, and she urged him to seek a place for Huang Chong on the provincial team. Zhang Yi brought the report to his mentor, Zhang Guowei, who accused him of presenting fake data.

• Zhang Yi excitedly showed Chen Li Huang Chong’s cardiopulmonary test report, which listed a VO2 max of 98 and a resting heart rate of 36.
• Chen Li was stunned by the results and suggested Zhang Yi ask his mentor to arrange Huang Chong’s special admission to the provincial team.
• Zhang Yi agreed with Chen Li but took the report to his mentor without first telling Huang Chong.
• Zhang Guowei examined Huang Chong’s test results and angrily accused Zhang Yi of bringing fake data to fool him.

Zhang Guowei reviewed Huang Chong’s exceptional test results and decided to watch him race in Suzhou before considering him for a professional team. As the official race began, Huang Chong received a system challenge to finish in the overall top ten.

• Zhang Yi showed Zhang Guowei Huang Chong’s hospital test records and described his cycling ability and background.
• Zhang Guowei believed Huang Chong had great potential and decided to watch the Suzhou race without revealing his presence.
• Zhang Yi told Huang Chong to give everything in the race, and the Headwind Cycling Team collected its numbers before the start.
• Zhou Ming arrived with his four lieutenants, renewed his challenge to Huang Chong, and lined his top-end bikes at the front.
• Liu Junjie promised that Huang Chong’s teammates would help him beat Zhou Ming’s group, and 110 riders began the race.
• The system instructed Huang Chong to place in the overall top ten in his first official cycling race.

Huang Chong’s team followed Zhang Yi’s plan as the race’s pace split the peloton, while Wang Qiang and two teammates began a hard pull to drop their rivals. Zhou Ming realized his domestiques were hesitating and angrily ordered them to chase Huang Chong’s team before he was dropped.

• Zhang Yi assigned Huang Chong the team leader role and instructed Wang Qiang and the other two to conserve energy early, then pull for him.
• The fast opening pace split the peloton, leaving Huang Chong’s team among roughly fifty riders while many early attackers were dropped.
• Zhou Ming’s team stayed in the group, and one of his domestiques broke away around the 35-kilometer mark to pursue the riders ahead as part of Zhou Ming’s plan.
• At 40 kilometers, Wang Qiang and his two teammates accelerated to pull for Huang Chong, raising their group’s pace and dropping riders.
• Zhou Ming’s domestiques hesitated and discussed Huang Chong’s tactics, so Zhou Ming cursed at them and ordered them to chase before he was dropped.

Huang Chong and Zhang Yi dropped Zhou Ming’s team and the breakaway group, then Zhang Yi taught Huang Chong how to sprint anaerobically near the finish. Zhang Yi braked just before the line, letting Huang Chong cross first and win.

• Liu Junjie exhausted himself pulling at the front, while Huang Chong’s group continued to pull away from Zhou Ming.
• Zhou Ming accepted that Huang Chong was stronger and gave up the chase, riding the remaining distance with his three companions.
• Huang Chong and Zhang Yi caught and overtook the lead group, then left Zhou Ming’s strongest domestique behind.
• With 200 meters left, Zhang Yi demonstrated anaerobic sprinting and told Huang Chong to follow his wheel.
• Zhang Yi stopped pedaling and squeezed the brakes near the finish, allowing Huang Chong to pass him and cross the line first.

After Huang Chong won the sprint with Zhang Yi’s help, Zhang Yi urged him to stay humble and work hard as he pursued professional cycling. Zhang Guowei then offered Huang Chong a place as a provincial-team reserve rider, where he would need to build muscle and prove himself before earning official status.

• Zhang Yi deliberately slowed near the finish so Huang Chong could take first place, then explained that he wanted Huang Chong to remember the feeling of winning.
• Huang Chong promised Zhang Yi he would stay grounded and train consistently as he pursued a cycling career.
• Zhang Guowei arrived, praised Zhang Yi for finding a promising prospect, and introduced himself to Huang Chong as the provincial road-cycling director and coach.
• Zhang Guowei explained that Huang Chong could join the provincial team as a reserve rider after registering, but would need muscle training and strong results to earn an official spot.
• Huang Chong accepted the requirements and agreed to complete the tests.

Huang Chong secured a place in the provincial cycling system after Zhang Yi helped him connect with Zhang Guowei, and he vowed to reach the UCI WorldTour. After winning the race and celebrating with the Headwind Cycling Team, Huang Chong prepared to leave for closed training, confident that his departure marked a new beginning.

• Zhang Guowei told Zhang Yi to help Huang Chong register as a professional rider and join the Cycling Sports Management Center.
• Zhang Yi explained his ambitions for developing road cycling and encouraged Huang Chong to reach the UCI WorldTour, and Huang Chong promised to win championships on European soil.
• Huang Chong won the race, while Zhou Ming's strongest lieutenant finished third at a much slower speed.
• Huang Chong treated the Headwind Cycling Team to dinner with his prize money and toasted Zhang Yi and his teammates.
• Zhang Yi announced that Huang Chong would join the provincial team for closed training, and the teammates congratulated him on his next step.

Huang Chong officially joined the provincial team as a reserve professional cyclist and promised Zhang Yi he would win a national gold medal. At his farewell dinner, Du Wei defended Huang Chong after Wu Fang revealed that her friend had rejected him as an unsuitable match because she doubted cycling had a future.

• Huang Chong told Du Wei he was joining the provincial team, and Du Wei arranged a farewell dinner with Wu Fang.
• Zhang Yi took Huang Chong through physical testing and registration, making him an official professional cyclist and explaining his prospects for the Provincial Games and national championships.
• Huang Chong thanked Zhang Yi and vowed to win a national gold medal for him before Zhang Yi drove away.
• Du Wei praised Huang Chong's determination at the farewell dinner, while Huang Chong joked that Du Wei was really grateful for his help with college coursework.
• After the dinner, Wu Fang told Du Wei that her friend had rejected Huang Chong because she considered him too skinny and doubted his career prospects as a cyclist.
• Du Wei angrily defended Huang Chong's potential earnings and talent, while Wu Fang privately remained uncertain about his future.

Huang Chong moved into the Cycling Sports Management Center after receiving a Specialized SL7 from Zhou Ming and a TT bike from Du Wei. He met Chen Junyi, who would assess his time-trial ability and oversee his training data and nutrition.

• Du Wei gave Huang Chong a Specialized S-Works Shiv TT and revealed that Zhou Ming had sent him a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 to honor their bet.
• Huang Chong agreed to keep the SL7, promised to thank Zhou Ming, adjusted both bikes to his fit, and left his Giant TCR with Du Wei.
• Huang Chong reported to the Cycling Sports Management Center, settled into the dorms, and learned he would undergo an ITT assessment.
• Chen Junyi introduced herself as Huang Chong's data analyst and nutritionist and instructed him to complete a 30-kilometer ITT ride.

Huang Chong completed a 30-kilometer time trial test, and Chen Junyi judged his ITT skills to be extremely poor because he lacked experience with a TT bike and had weak upper-body strength. After Chen prepared a detailed monthlong training plan and food list, Huang Chong wondered why a road cyclist needed so many different kinds of training.

• Chen Junyi instructed Huang Chong to ride three laps around the base and give the ITT test his full effort.
• Huang Chong completed the test at an average speed of 40 km/h, struggling to maintain an aerodynamic position and handle the TT bike.
• Chen Junyi criticized Huang Chong's ITT ability and identified his poor bike-handling technique, unfamiliarity with hand positions, and insufficient upper-body strength.
• Huang Chong asked how he could improve, and Chen Junyi said she would prepare a month of training for him.
• The next morning, Chen Junyi gave Huang Chong a detailed training schedule and tailored food list, and he asked whether she had mistaken him for someone who was not a road cyclist.

Over nearly three months with the provincial team, Huang Chong improved his cycling performance under Chen Junyi’s demanding training and secretly used system enhancers to optimize his chest, back, and glute muscles. By mid-November, his body was comprehensively strengthened, leaving him with no major physical weaknesses as a GC rider.

• Chen Junyi’s tailored diet and intensive training helped Huang Chong return to 65 kg, refine his ITT position, and raise his FTP to 307W.
• Huang Chong asked Chen Junyi to teach him gym exercises so he could complete the system’s muscle-training missions without relying on weight-changing drugs.
• After completing the chest-training mission, Huang Chong secretly drank the Chest Muscle Enhancer and strengthened his chest without changing his weight.
• Huang Chong completed the back-training mission and used the Back Muscle Enhancer, improving his back strength and flexibility for sustained ITT riding.
• By mid-November, Huang Chong completed the glute-training mission and used the Glute Muscle Enhancer, increasing his pedaling efficiency and finishing his overall physical optimization.