Chapter Summaries

Huang Chong was selected for Bora Team’s Tour Down Under lineup and accepted that he would serve as a water carrier rather than contest the general classification. As he and his teammates flew to Australia for his UCI WorldTour debut, Chinese fans and his hometown celebrated his participation.

• Rolf Aldag named Huang Chong among the seven riders traveling to the Tour Down Under and assigned him to support his teammates instead of pursuing the overall title.
• Huang Chong agreed to follow Bora Team’s tactics, and Aldag praised his response before wishing him a successful debut.
• On January 13, 2024, Huang Chong, his teammates, the second coaching staff, and Chen Junyi flew from Germany to Australia.
• Bora Team announced Huang Chong’s participation on its Chinese social media accounts, prompting fans to celebrate and debate his chances.
• Huang Lingshan shared the announcement at Xianyun High School, where her classmates and former teacher Chen Juan celebrated Huang Chong’s achievement.

Huang Chong prepared for his first UCI WorldTour race, the Tour Down Under, despite Bora Team assigning him a supporting role. As the race began, commentators recounted his rapid rise and past victories, leaving fans eager to see how he would perform at the highest level.

• Huang Chong reviewed the Tour Down Under start list and complained that Aldag had not allowed him to compete for the overall title.
• Chen Junyi encouraged Huang Chong to be patient, and he promised to excel as a water carrier while following the team's race plan.
• Huang Chong attended the team presentation in Australia, where Chinese fans cheered him, then lined up in Bora Team's kit and on his Specialized S-Works SL8.
• The 2024 Tour Down Under began, and the cameras focused on Huang Chong as the peloton set off.
• Eurosport hosts Jimmy and Steve discussed Huang Chong's victories at the Tour of Qinghai Lake, the Asian Games, and the Tour of Guangxi, building anticipation for his WorldTour debut.

In the extreme heat of the Tour Down Under, Huang Chong repeatedly supplied his Bora Team teammates and earned their respect while a system mission promised him a heat-resistance reward for finishing the race. His support helped Bora’s lead-out train deliver Sam Welsford to victory in the first stage.

• Huang Chong rode through temperatures that climbed above 40°C as Louis Barré and Georg Zimmermann abandoned their breakaway and returned to the peloton.
• The sports director sent Huang Chong back to the team car, where he collected bottles and energy gels before chasing down the peloton to supply his six teammates.
• Huang Chong received a system mission offering a Heat-Resistance Cooling Agent if he persisted through the race, and he refused the sports director’s offer of an ice pack.
• Huang Chong completed a second and third supply run, repeatedly using anaerobic efforts to catch his teammates as Bora Team raised the pace above 50 km/h.
• Bora Team formed a lead-out train in the final kilometers, with Ryan Mullen and Danny van Poppel setting up Sam Welsford’s sprint.
• Sam Welsford won the first stage ahead of Phil Bauhaus, while Huang Chong finished his work supporting the team.

After helping Sam Welsford win Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under, Huang Chong used a system reward to master English and prepared for Stage 2. He saw the hilly course as a chance to attack, but Aldag’s team planned to prioritize Welsford’s sprint jersey before giving him opportunities.

• Sam Welsford credited Huang Chong’s water-carrying work for helping Bora Team win Stage 1 in a post-race interview.
• Huang Chong’s teammates praised his support, and he drank the system’s Heat-Resistance Cooling Agent after the race.
• Huang Chong asked Chen Junyi for advice on learning English, then received a Language Learning Crash-Course Skill Pack from the system.
• After memorizing one hundred English words, Huang Chong gained master-level English proficiency.
• Huang Chong assessed Stage 2’s hilly course as suitable for a breakaway, but Aldag’s lineup prioritized Sam Welsford’s sprint jersey before Huang could pursue stage wins.

Huang Chong handled Bora Team’s grueling supply duties through the Tour Down Under’s first four hot stages without showing the expected fatigue, while Sam Welsford secured the blue sprinters’ jersey. After seeing Huang’s performance on the climbs, the directeur sportif called Rolf to propose giving him a chance to race for results in the final mountain stages.

• Huang Chong completed repeated supply runs on the S2 stage and remained unusually comfortable despite the heat and difficult climbs.
• Luke Plapp attacked on Fox Creek with Narváez, while Welsford was dropped and Huang Chong delivered supplies to him instead of joining the chase.
• Del Toro won S2 and took the general classification lead as Huang Chong finished alongside Welsford, nearly a minute behind the first group.
• Huang Chong helped Welsford win both the S3 and S4 stages, securing the blue sprinters’ jersey two stages early.
• The directeur sportif told Rolf that Huang Chong’s form remained exceptional and suggested adjusting the team’s tactics so he could contest the final mountain stages.

Bora Team promoted Huang Chong from water carrier to domestique for the Tour Down Under’s two climbing stages, and he began supporting Zwiehoff and Adria on S5. As the riders approached the final Willunga Hill climb, Huang Chong secured a bottle and prepared for the decisive ascent.

• Rolf Aldag told the coaching staff that Huang Chong should first learn to be a domestique, and the team director assigned Huang Chong to support Zwiehoff and Adria in the final two stages.
• The Tour Down Under’s S5 began in extreme heat, and Huang Chong rode near the back while four riders formed a breakaway.
• The peloton caught three breakaway riders at Willunga Hill, and Huang Chong led Zwiehoff and Adria up the first ascent after their flat-stage teammates were dropped.
• At the finish arch, Huang Chong moved to the roadside feed zone and took a bottle from Bora Team staff.
• Huang Chong entered the final 24 kilometers with the bottle as the GC contenders prepared to fight for the King of Willunga title.

Huang Chong was freed from domestique duties after his teammates were dropped on Willunga Hill, and he attacked the GC leaders in the final 500 meters. He won Stage 5 of the Tour Down Under and became the first Chinese King of Willunga.

• Huang Chong rejoined the lead group after collecting the last roadside feed bag and rode toward the final climb with his teammates Adria and Zwiehoff.
• Adria was dropped on the climb, and the directeur sportif told Huang Chong to stay with the peloton instead of returning for him.
• When Zwiehoff also began to lose contact, Huang Chong said he had enough energy to stay with the GC leaders, and the directeur sportif gave him permission to race for the stage win.
• Huang Chong followed Simon Yates's attack, then launched a 1,300-watt effort with about 500 meters remaining as the other leaders marked one another.
• Narváez and Alaphilippe chased Huang Chong, but he dropped them near the finish and won the queen stage atop Willunga Hill.

Huang Chong won the Tour Down Under's queen stage, reshaping the general classification and earning praise from commentators and fans. Before the final stage, he asked to join the breakaway to improve his standing, and Bora Team's director approved his plan.

• Huang Chong won Stage 5 ahead of Oscar Onley and Stephen Williams, while Del Toro lost the orange leader's jersey and Williams took the GC lead.
• Steve and Jimmy praised Huang Chong's performance on Eurosport, and an SBS reporter interviewed him after the finish.
• Huang Chong received the King of Willunga trophy and gave signed bottles to Chinese fans who had cheered him.
• Before Stage 6, Huang Chong checked that he was 29th overall and asked Bora Team's director to let him join the breakaway.
• Bora Team's director agreed to Huang Chong's request and promised to provide him with enough supplies.

Huang Chong joined an eight-man breakaway on the Tour Down Under’s final stage, collected both intermediate sprint bonuses, and then attacked repeatedly to shed rivals and weaken the peloton. He crossed the finish line just ahead of Williams to win the stage and claim another ten-second time bonus.

• Huang Chong joined the breakaway, prompting UAE Team Emirates and Quick-Step to send Antonio Morgado and Gil Gelders to mark him.
• Huang Chong won the time bonuses at both intermediate sprints while the other breakaway riders did not contest them.
• With about thirty kilometers remaining, Huang Chong accelerated on Mount Lofty, splitting the breakaway and forcing the peloton to chase.
• Huang Chong attacked again on the final climb and dropped the remaining breakaway riders as the peloton closed to within seconds.
• Huang Chong crossed the finish line half a wheel ahead of Williams, winning the stage and earning a ten-second time bonus.

Huang Chong won Stage 6 of the Tour Down Under and secured fifth place in the general classification, earning system points as Bora Team celebrated his breakout WorldTour debut. After Bora Team withdrew from the next Australian race because of heatstroke and fatigue, Huang Chong reassured fans that he was healthy, while Du Wei struggled to meet a sudden flood of orders for Huang Chong’s team-edition gear.

• Huang Chong watched Bart Lemmen and Julian Alaphilippe finish, confirming that he had secured fifth place overall after winning Stage 6.
• Huang Chong received 345 UCI points, bringing his Optimization Point balance to 405, while Stephen Williams claimed the overall Tour Down Under title.
• China Sports commentators praised Huang Chong’s versatility and his two climbing-stage victories, and domestic fans celebrated his performance.
• Bora Team announced it would withdraw from the Great Ocean Road Race after several riders suffered excessive fatigue and heatstroke, and Huang Chong reassured fans that he was in good condition.
• Du Wei found his bike shop overwhelmed with orders for Huang Chong’s team-edition equipment, but he could not obtain enough Bora Team frames.
• Zhou Ming called Du Wei and demanded that he reserve the team-edition bike frames already in the shop.

Zhou Ming recruited Du Wei and Li Zifan to discuss launching a cycling-equipment brand built around Huang Chong’s rising profile. Li Zifan agreed to explore the idea, while Du Wei was left stunned by the wealthy men’s unconventional plan.

• Zhou Ming arrived at Du Wei’s bike shop and demanded a new Bora Team Edition SL8, but Du Wei said his stock was sold out.
• Zhou Ming offered to pay double for the size 51 bike Liu Chaoyang was assembling, then learned that Li Zifan had reserved it.
• After hearing that Li Zifan knew Huang Chong, Zhou Ming arranged to meet him at the shop instead of trying to buy his bike.
• Li Zifan arrived to collect his unfinished bike, exchanged WeChat contacts with Zhou Ming, and joined Zhou Ming and Du Wei for a meal.
• Zhou Ming proposed building a cycling-equipment brand and using Huang Chong’s future commercial value to promote it.
• Li Zifan said he was interested in joining, while Du Wei silently wondered why rich people thought so strangely.

After Huang Chong’s Tour Down Under success, Du Wei sought advice about joining Zhou Ming and Li Zifan’s cycling business, while Huang returned to Bora Team and prepared for his next race. The team selected Huang and the same group of domestiques for the UAE Tour, replacing Adria with Emanuel Buchmann.

• Li Zifan tested the SL8, impressed Du Wei and Zhou Ming with his speed and bike-handling skills, and demonstrated a bunny hop over a step.
• Du Wei told Huang Chong about Zhou Ming and Li Zifan’s startup proposal, and Chen Junyi advised that the business plan was promising but Du Wei should be careful with the partnership agreement.
• Huang Chong returned to Germany after the Tour Down Under, where Ralph Denk and Rolf Aldag praised his performance and welcomed him back to Bora Team.
• Huang Chong kept the team officials’ praise in perspective and resumed training, while the team sent other riders to European races and left him out.
• Aldag announced Bora Team’s UAE Tour lineup, selecting Huang Chong alongside Sam Welsford, Ben Zwiehoff, Patrick Gamper, Danny van Poppel, Ryan Mullen, and Emanuel Buchmann.

Huang Chong studied the UAE Tour route and its star-filled start list, recognizing that the time trial and two difficult summit finishes would make the overall contest demanding. Chen Junyi encouraged him to treat the rival teams’ leaders as targets and keep racing hard to earn a place in his team’s core lineup.

• Chen Junyi showed Huang Chong the seven-stage elevation profiles and warned him that the Stage 2 time trial and mountain stages would shape the general classification.
• Huang Chong assessed the climbs and noted that UAE Team Emirates had not entered Pogačar, though its lineup included strong riders such as Adam Yates and Jay Vine.
• Huang Chong identified Lennert van Eetvelt and Ben O'Connor as major general-classification rivals and recognized many other star riders on the start list.
• Huang Chong admitted to Chen Junyi that facing riders he had once admired felt dreamlike, rather than saying he lacked confidence.
• Chen Junyi encouraged Huang Chong to target the rival team leaders and give everything in each race so he could enter his team's core lineup.

Huang Chong began the UAE Tour as a lieutenant rider supporting Bora Team’s leaders, then was caught in a final-kilometer crash on Stage 1. He escaped with scraped elbows, reassured Chen Junyi, and treated the wounds with a system-rewarded healing ointment.

• Chen Junyi encouraged Huang Chong as they traveled with Bora Team to the United Arab Emirates for the UAE Tour.
• At the pre-race press conference, Huang Chong said he hoped to repeat his Tour Down Under form while prioritizing support for the team’s leaders.
• On Stage 1, Huang Chong helped Bora Team’s sprint train before dropping back with the other general-classification riders near the finish.
• A crash with just over 200 meters remaining sent a Jayco rider into Huang Chong, but Huang jumped clear of his bike and suffered only minor abrasions.
• Huang Chong finished within the same recorded time as the stage winner, reassured Chen Junyi, and applied his system’s Fast-Acting Trauma Healing Ointment to his elbows.

After recovering from a minor crash, Huang Chong rode the UAE Tour’s 12.1-kilometer time trial and finished fifth, placing ahead of several overall favorites. His result left the Bora manager astonished by the talent China had produced.

• Huang Chong returned to the team after treating his scraped elbow, and the manager told him to rest before the time trial.
• McNulty set the early fastest time, while Jay Vine and Bjerg also finished near the top for UAE Team Emirates.
• Zwiehoff finished thirty-third and Buchmann sixty-sixth, leaving the Bora manager with few hopes for the team’s overall result.
• Huang Chong completed the time trial at an average speed of 52.964 km/h, fifteen seconds behind McNulty, and ranked fifth in both the stage and general classification.
• The Bora manager hugged Huang Chong and praised his time trial strength, marveling at how China had produced an athlete like him.

After Huang Chong’s fifth-place ITT result, Bora Team’s leaders discussed his potential and whether to accelerate his development. He began the UAE Tour’s decisive mountain stage in the white jersey, as the peloton reached the long ascent of Jebel Jais.

• Huang Chong finished fifth in the UAE Tour ITT, earned 10 UCI points, and secured the white Best Young Rider jersey.
• Aldag and Ralph Denk praised Huang Chong’s time-trial performance, while Aldag worried that pushing his development too aggressively could harm him.
• Huang Chong started Stage 3 in white as the UAE Tour’s GC contenders prepared for the mountain finish.
• Visma’s manager regretted that the team had not signed Huang Chong and discussed his potential to become a complete GC rider.
• Stewart and Silvan Dillier formed an early breakaway, but the peloton caught them in the crosswinds; Stewart later attacked again with Jonas Rickaert.
• Adam Yates was caught in a crash but rejoined the peloton, which then reached the start of the 35-kilometer uphill run to Jebel Jais.

Huang Chong followed his directeur’s advice on Jebel Jais, conserved his strength, and sprinted to second behind Ben O'Connor. After the third stage, Jay Vine took the general classification lead, with Huang Chong six seconds behind in second.

• Stewart was caught as the peloton began climbing Jebel Jais, and the sprinters dropped back.
• Einer Rubio attacked, but Bjerg caught him; Adam Yates abandoned after being dropped.
• Bjerg and other teams set a hard pace, thinning the group as Huang Chong stayed with the leaders and Zwiehoff.
• Paret-Peintre attacked with Ben O'Connor, who opened a gap; Huang Chong followed Jay Vine in the chase and sprinted past him near the finish.
• O'Connor won the stage, Huang Chong finished second without a time gap, and Vine finished five seconds behind Huang Chong.
• Vine moved into first overall, Huang Chong stood second at six seconds, and O'Connor took the green mountains jersey.

Huang Chong finished second on Stage S3 after chasing O'Connor and beating Jay Vine in the final sprint, leaving him three seconds behind O'Connor in the overall standings. After three flat stages, Bora Team made Huang Chong its undisputed leader for the decisive Stage S7, while UAE Team Emirates prepared to target him and O'Connor.

• Paret-Peintre attacked with 1.4 km remaining, O'Connor followed, and Huang Chong stayed with Jay Vine before sprinting past him to finish second.
• Zwiehoff and Bora Team's directeur sportif congratulated Huang Chong, who apologized for not catching O'Connor, but the directeur sportif reassured him that he had made the right choice and remained three seconds ahead of O'Connor overall.
• Attila Valter finished with Jay Vine, but Visma–Lease a Bike's directeur sportif lamented that Huang Chong had outperformed Valter and questioned why the team had not signed him.
• UAE Team Emirates' staff recognized Huang Chong as a major threat and decided to have their domestiques drop him and O'Connor early on the final climb so Jay Vine could ride to the finish alone.
• Tim Merlier won the sprints on S1, S4, and S6 and secured the points classification, while Wellsford managed only third on S5.
• Before Stage S7, Bora Team's directeur sportif ordered the entire team to work for Huang Chong as its core leader in the fight for the overall title.

On the UAE Tour’s final stage, Bora Team protected Huang Chong as he battled the leading GC riders up Jebel Hafeet. Huang Chong attacked near the summit, won Stage 7, and took the overall title and three jerseys, leaving Bora Team celebrating a historic sweep.

• Before Stage 7, Bora Team made Huang Chong its protected leader, with Jay Vine six seconds ahead and Ben O'Connor three seconds behind him.
• In severe crosswinds, Huang Chong’s teammates sheltered him across the flat route while Buchmann joined the breakaway and stayed ahead into the climb.
• On Jebel Hafeet, McNulty and then Jay Vine were dropped, while attacks from Pello Bilbao, Einer Rubio, and Max Poole failed to break the remaining group.
• With two kilometers left, Huang Chong attacked, caught Buchmann, and used his teammate’s final pull to open a gap; Lennert Van Eetvelt stayed with him while O'Connor and Ilan Van Wilder fell back.
• Huang Chong accelerated again near the summit, dropped Van Eetvelt, and crossed the finish line first to win Stage 7, the general classification, and the white, red, and mountains jerseys.
• At Bora Team headquarters, Ralph Denk celebrated Huang Chong’s victory and considered his signing a bargain.

After winning the UAE Tour and raising his FTP to 418 watts, Huang Chong became a sensation in China and earned the trust of Bora Team. As the team’s established leaders struggled in major European races, Denk confronted Aldag about changing their approach, leaving Huang Chong’s place in the team’s plans in question.

• Huang Chong converted his UAE Tour reward points into 7 watts, then celebrated his overall victory and three leader’s jerseys with Bora Team.
• Huang Chong’s title drew attention across China, and Du Wei celebrated his friend’s success while Huang Lingshan’s classmates clamored to meet him.
• After the team’s banquet, Huang Chong returned to training while Bora Team reconsidered his race schedule and sent its leading riders to European events.
• Bora Team’s riders delivered disappointing results at Strade Bianche, Paris–Nice, and Tirreno–Adriatico, despite Vlasov winning one stage and Hindley finishing third overall.
• Denk told Aldag that Bora Team needed changes after its established leaders underperformed compared with Huang Chong and Wellsford.