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Zhang Yi did not think Huang Chong was overestimating himself by comparing himself to him.

Although the gap in ability between professionals and amateurs was extremely obvious, based on Huang Chong's performance just now, Zhang Yi could not help recalling what Wang Qiang had said when recommending him to the team.

He smiled and asked Huang Chong,

"Wang Qiang told me last night that you've been riding for less than a year, have never received professional training before, and usually just rode for fun with friends. Is that right?"

Huang Chong understood that the question was meant to learn about his background.

After all, if he was joining a cycling team, even if it was not a professional one, they would still need a basic understanding of his personal history. He nodded and said,

"Yes, Captain Zhang. I was a complete outsider before.

Although I worked as a technician at a bike shop and knew a lot about bicycle mechanics, I knew nothing about how riders trained properly or how to improve cycling ability more effectively.

These past few days, thanks to Brother Wang and the others' guidance, I went online and studied a great deal of theory. Then I realized that much of the way I used to ride was ineffective training.

Brother Wang and the others probably thought I was too unprofessional, so they recommended me to your team, Captain!"

"Then it seems Wang Qiang was telling the truth. He neither exaggerated nor downplayed your abilities or riding experience."

Zhang Yi nodded, then began praising him.

"Still, the climbing talent you displayed today was far more impressive than Wang Qiang described.

Your weight in particular is already quite a burden when it comes to climbing.

Yet not only did you keep up with me the entire way and ride all the way up Prince Peak, but judging by my cycling computer data, your average power on this climb had to be above 200W.

And on that steepest 12% long climb, my normalized power showed 250W for two and a half minutes. Yet you still stayed glued to me, attacking out of the saddle.

Honestly, judging from today's climb, the climbing talent, endurance, recovery ability, and other qualities you possess are all stronger than those riders like Wang Qiang, who have trained for two or three years!"

Huang Chong was quite surprised that Zhang Yi could use cycling computer data to pinpoint, in just a few words, exactly where the gap between him and Wang Qiang's group lay.

Someone who had been a professional rider really was different. His analysis of cycling data was practically crystal clear and hit the nail on the head.

But in truth, Huang Chong's legs were not as formidable as Zhang Yi had made them out to be.

Granted, his power output while climbing was indeed roughly what Zhang Yi had said. He had monitored his system cycling computer the entire time and knew that his average power over the final 10KM had been around 200W, while his maximum power during that out-of-the-saddle attack had been 254W.

But the reason he had been able to do that was fundamentally because he had eaten an energy bar at the foot of the mountain beforehand.

If he had been like Wang Qiang and the others, riding from Lin'an District to the summit of Prince Peak while only drinking water and taking no energy supplements, then after the exertion of dozens of kilometers of rolling climbs, there was no way he could still have produced such terrifying power over the final 10KM.

So, without the boost from the energy bar, there was still a slight gap between his true level and that of Wang Qiang's group.

It was just that after last night's optimization, that gap had become extremely small.

He was indeed just one final step away from surpassing Wang Qiang and the others.

"Captain Zhang, I heard Brother Wang and the others say that you used to be a professional rider and were even on the provincial team. Could I ask what kind of power-to-weight ratio is needed to become a professional rider?"

Zhang Yi did not think Huang Chong himself wanted to become a professional rider when he heard the question.

Although the latter's climbing talent was indeed quite good, he was simply too old.

If Huang Chong had been only sixteen—no, even eighteen—with his current ability, Zhang Yi would have felt he could try training him and see whether he could reach the entry level for professional riders.

But Huang Chong had already graduated from university and was at least twenty-two years old. It was no longer possible for him to train up to professional standards.

A twenty-two-year-old professional rider might be at the golden age of his career. After all, the white jersey of the Tour de France, symbolizing the "Best Young Rider," could be worn until the age of twenty-five.

But someone who only began cycling at twenty-two and wanted to become a professional rider was absolutely an elderly beginner.

Of course, he would not directly say something that could destroy another person's hopes and dreams. He merely stated the basic threshold for professional riders truthfully, smiling as he said,

"There are several types of road riders, and different types have completely different requirements for power-to-weight ratio.

For example, climbers definitely cannot match sprinters in explosive power or power-to-weight ratio, but they have better endurance. It is difficult to generalize based on average power-to-weight ratio alone.

But overall, even for professional teams in China, riders need to have a power-to-weight ratio close to at least 5.0. Otherwise, they cannot even stay with the peloton on flat stages, and no professional team would want them."

Huang Chong nodded, feeling that he now had a clear goal.

Of course, he would not wait until his power-to-weight ratio reached 5.0 before entering cycling races. After all, cycling in China was still mainly amateur.

And official races were not something amateur riders could enter. Even Around Qiandao Lake had both a public division and an elite division.

The requirement for the elite division was an average speed of no less than 35KM/H.

With his current ability, he barely qualified to register. As for standing on the podium in the elite division, that was nothing but a fool's dream.

Therefore, he had to first adapt to the race environment and rhythm through amateur cycling events, then fight his way up step by step, join a professional team, register with the UCI as a professional rider, and finally compete against the top riders in high-level cycling races.

"I see. That really is a high requirement. With a power-to-weight ratio of 5.0, at my current weight, my average power would need to reach at least 350W."

Huang Chong replied with a sigh.

"Exactly. Road cycling is a sport anyone can take part in. It seems that as long as you have a bicycle, you can become a rider. But to go professional, you need athletic talent that only one in ten thousand possesses.

And China started too late in this field. We are only just getting started, and we do not even have a youth development system.

I truly hope a new Chinese rider can be like Ji Cheng back then and show the cycling talent of us Chinese in the three Grand Tours!"

Huang Chong was not surprised that Zhang Yi, having been on the provincial team, would feel such emotion and hold such hopes.

After all, someone like him understood better than anyone just how vast the gap was between China and foreign countries in road cycling.

Leaving aside dominating the UCI WorldTour, road cycling itself was one of the official events stipulated for the Olympics.

Yet China currently found it difficult even to qualify for the Olympic road race, and even if it qualified, it was difficult for the participating riders to finish normally.

In short, this sport was much like China's national football team. It was simply worlds apart from the international level.

But as a reborn man, Huang Chong knew that two years later, a new Chinese rider would join Astana Cycling Team, one of the eighteen UCI WorldTour teams.

After thinking about it, he decided to give Zhang Yi a spoiler-like reassurance.

"Our country will definitely have new outstanding riders joining UCI WorldTour teams, Captain Zhang. Just rest assured!"

Zhang Yi did not take those words too seriously. He merely assumed Huang Chong was offering him comfort out of adult politeness and courtesy.

He nodded politely as well, said, "Let's hope so," then extended his hand to Huang Chong and sincerely welcomed him.

"Huang Chong, welcome to Headwind Cycling Team!"