Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The UAE Tour's final stage (Al Ain–Jebel Hafeet) decides the overall champion.
• Huang Chong, Bora Team's leader, aims to win the overall title.
• Crosswinds and dusty conditions make racing challenging.
• Bora Team's tactical deployment, including Buchmann's breakaway, helps Huang Chong.
• Huang Chong attacks on the final climb, dropping his rivals, and wins the stage.
• He claims the first UCI WorldTour triple jersey sweep (red leader's jersey, white best young rider's jersey, and king of the mountains jersey).

Character Developments

• Huang Chong grows into a team leader, experiencing comfortable riding and team support.
• He demonstrates exceptional recovery and explosive power, winning the final stage.
• Bora Team's staff, including the directeur sportif and support staff, show unwavering support for Huang Chong.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and support: Bora Team's riders and staff work together to help Huang Chong win.
• Overcoming challenges: Huang Chong faces harsh weather conditions and strong rivals but prevails.
• Personal growth: Huang Chong proves himself as a team leader and UCI WorldTour winner.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and his Bora Team teammates work together to protect him and help him win.
• Huang Chong and his rivals, particularly Ben O'Connor and Lennert Van Eetvelt, battle it out on the final climb.
• Bora Team's staff, including the directeur sportif and manager, show unwavering support and faith in Huang Chong.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong wins the UAE Tour, securing his first UCI WorldTour title and earning 375 UCI points.
• Bora Team's management is impressed by Huang Chong's performance and considers him for more important races.
• Huang Chong returns to the team and resumes training while his teammates compete in Strade Bianche, Paris–Nice, and Tirreno–Adriatico.
• Bora Team's results in these races are disappointing, with no stage wins and poor overall rankings.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong continues to prove his abilities and gains recognition from his team management.
• Aldag and Denk, Bora Team's management, face pressure due to the team's underperformance and consider changes to their strategy.

Significant Themes

• The pressure on UCI WorldTour teams to perform and deliver results.
• The challenge of managing a team with high expectations and established riders.
• The potential of a rookie rider and the decision to invest in their development.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong interacts with Lennert Van Eetvelt after winning the UAE Tour, showing respect and humility.
• Aldag and Denk discuss the team's performance and consider changes to their strategy.
• Huang Chong is envious of his teammates' luxurious support lineups but understands the need for rest and recovery.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bora Team participates in Milan–San Remo, a prestigious UCI WorldTour race, but their chances of winning are slim due to the strong field of competitors.
• Huang Chong is not selected for Milan–San Remo but is instead chosen as the leader for Milan–Turin, a Pro-level race, to gain experience and potentially win.
• Huang Chong studies the Milan–Turin course and prepares for the race, aiming to break away on the Prascorsano climb and win solo.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong: He is confident in his abilities and eager to race against top competitors. He understands the importance of one-day races and is determined to win Milan–Turin.
• Aldag (Bora Team Sports Director): He recognizes Huang Chong's potential and gives him opportunities to lead and gain experience. He also provides specific instructions for the Milan–Turin race.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and determination: Huang Chong's desire to prove himself and win races, despite the challenges he faces.
• Opportunity and experience: Huang Chong's eagerness to race against top competitors and gain experience in one-day races.
• Team dynamics: Bora Team's approach to developing young riders and giving them opportunities to lead.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Aldag: They discuss tactics and strategies for the Milan–Turin race. Aldag provides specific instructions for Huang Chong to follow.
• Huang Chong and Chen Junyi: They discuss Huang Chong's racing opportunities and the potential for him to race in WorldTour events if he performs well at Milan–Turin.
• Huang Chong and Bettiol (in the race): They engage in a climbing duel during the Milan–Turin race, with Huang Chong ultimately dropping Bettiol and riding away solo.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong wins Milan-Turin, opening a 1.5-minute gap on Bettiol and the peloton.
• Huang Chong's victory earns him 200 UCI points, and he allocates 4 points to increase his FTP to 422W.
• Huang Chong learns Italian using the System Learning Pack and surprises Chen Junyi with his language skills.
• Huang Chong attends Milan-San Remo as a spectator, witnessing Pogačar's attack on Poggio.
• Bora Team finishes Milan-San Remo with Sobrero in 12th place and three other riders in the 30-50 range, earning a total of 140 UCI points.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong demonstrates his ability to exceed his usual limits under pressure, as seen in the Asian Championships.
• Aldag reassesses Huang Chong's strength and considers entering him in top-tier UCI WorldTour races.

Significant Themes

• Huang Chong's rapid improvement and determination.
• The gap between UCI WorldTour riders and the challenges of one-day races.
• The importance of mental strength and confidence in racing.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Chen Junyi bond over shopping and sightseeing in Milan.
• Huang Chong and Aldag discuss Huang Chong's potential in one-day races.
• Huang Chong watches Milan-San Remo with the team, experiencing the race from a different perspective.

Key Plot Points

• Pogačar dominates Volta a Catalunya, winning four stages and the overall title, while Bora Team's Vlasov finishes fourth.
• Huang Chong debuts in UCI WorldTour one-day races at Dwars door Vlaanderen, aiming to prove himself against top-tier riders.

Character Developments

• Pogačar continues to solidify his status as a dominant force in stage racing.
• Huang Chong faces pressure and high expectations in his first UCI WorldTour race, determined to prove himself.
• Bora Team's Vlasov performs well, finishing fourth overall at Volta a Catalunya, showing his value as a domestique.

Significant Themes

• The gap between top-tier riders (like Pogačar) and the rest of the field.
• The pressure and expectations placed on Huang Chong in his UCI WorldTour debut.
• The importance of team dynamics and domestique roles, as seen with Bora Team's Vlasov.

Character Interactions

• Aldag, Bora Team's sporting director, provides guidance and support to Huang Chong before Dwars door Vlaanderen.
• Huang Chong interacts with his teammates, including Van Poppel and Meeus, during the race, working together as domestiques.
• Huang Chong's family and fans, both in China and abroad, watch his races with excitement and anticipation.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dwars door Vlaanderen race begins with a large breakaway, including Abrahamsen and Dries De Bondt.
• Huang Chong crashes after a rider behind him clips his wheel, suffering superficial injuries.
• Huang Chong receives treatment, catches up to the leading group, and climbs Kanarieberg with the top six riders.
• The leading group thins to six riders, with Tarling catching up after the Mariaborrestraat cobbled sector.
• Huang Chong's group reels in the breakaway and drops Tarling on the Ladeuze climb.
• Huang Chong and Jorgenson attack on the final climb, Nokere, and open a gap on the remaining riders.
• Huang Chong wins the sprint against Jorgenson, crossing the finish line first.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong demonstrates exceptional resilience, quick thinking, and determination after his crash, catching up to the leading group and ultimately winning the race.
• Van Poppel, Huang Chong's teammate, gains a newfound respect for Huang Chong's toughness and hunger to win.
• Jorgenson, the eventual second-place finisher, struggles to shake Huang Chong and ultimately loses the sprint.

Significant Themes

• Resilience and determination in the face of adversity, as shown by Huang Chong's refusal to quit after his crash.
• The brutal nature of cobbled classics and the toll they take on riders' bodies.
• The importance of teamwork and strategic racing, as demonstrated by Huang Chong's and Jorgenson's cooperation to open a gap on the final climb.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Van Poppel work together to catch the leading group after Huang Chong's crash.
• Huang Chong and Jorgenson cooperate to open a gap on the final climb and ultimately sprint for the win.
• The domestic cycling fans show support for Huang Chong after his crash, praying for his safety and well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong wins the 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen, a UCI WorldTour race, after a dramatic comeback despite a crash.
• Huang Chong is injured and withdraws from the Tour of Flanders. He misses the race due to a minor fracture in his right arm.
• A severe crash occurs during the Tour of the Basque Country, injuring several top riders, including the reigning Tour de France champion, Vingegaard.
• Van der Poel wins the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix, further cementing his status as the dominant rider in the Classics.
• Huang Chong, fully recovered, expresses his desire to participate in the upcoming Ardennes Classics.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong proves his resilience and determination by winning Dwars door Vlaanderen after a crash, solidifying his status as an elite rider.
• Huang Chong shows maturity by understanding the importance of recovery and not rushing back to racing after his injury.
• Chen Junyi demonstrates her concern and care for Huang Chong, acting as a caregiver during his recovery.

Significant Themes

• Resilience and determination in the face of adversity, as shown by Huang Chong's comeback and recovery.
• The importance of safety and recovery in professional cycling.
• The intense competition and dominance of top riders in the UCI WorldTour.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Chen Junyi grow closer as she cares for him during his recovery.
• Huang Chong interacts with team management, expressing his desire to race the Ardennes Classics.
• Huang Chong and other cycling fans discuss and react to the severe crash at the Tour of the Basque Country.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong returns to racing after injury, aiming to compete in La Flèche Wallonne.
• Bora Team's director, Aldag, is cautious about Huang Chong's recovery but allows him to race.
• Huang Chong proves his fitness and is cleared to race by the team doctor.
• Huang Chong competes in La Flèche Wallonne, a challenging one-day race with steep climbs.
• He faces strong competition, including riders like Carapaz, Vauquelin, and Williams.
• Huang Chong wins the race after a thrilling uphill sprint on the Mur de Huy.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong demonstrates his exceptional climbing abilities and recovery from injury.
• Aldag shows concern for Huang Chong's health and trust in his abilities.
• Other riders, such as Williams, showcase their skills and determination but ultimately cannot match Huang Chong.

Significant Themes

• The importance of rider health and recovery.
• The role of teamwork and trust between riders and directors.
• The thrill and unpredictability of one-day races.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Aldag discuss Huang Chong's recovery and racing plans.
• Huang Chong and Adria work together in the final climb, with Adria leading and Huang Chong sprinting to victory.
• Huang Chong and Williams engage in a thrilling uphill sprint, with Huang Chong ultimately winning.

Notable Quotes

• "Are you sure your injury has fully healed?... I cannot put an injured rider who has not recovered on the start line." - Aldag
• "He's returning so quickly?... German orthopedics really live up to the reputation." - Domestic cycling fan
• "Huang Chong is so experienced!!!... Does anyone else still have a chance?!!" - Steve, Eurosport cycling channel host

Summary

• Huang Chong wins La Flèche Wallonne, his third consecutive UCI WorldTour victory, and becomes the first rider from China to win the race.
• He is selected as Bora Team's leader for Liège–Bastogne–Liège, one of the five Monuments, with Hindley and Vlasov as his domestiques.
• Huang Chong faces Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu Van der Poel, the top favorites for victory, in his first direct confrontation with them.
• Fans back home are excited and hopeful but realistic about Huang Chong's chances, with most expecting a top-three finish.
• Huang Chong's friends and business partners watch the race together, reminiscing about his journey and discussing his potential.
• The race begins with all riders well-prepared for the challenging course and weather conditions.
• Eurosport commentators Steve and Jimmy express their excitement about Huang Chong's participation and potential performance.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Nine riders broke away at the start, including UCI WorldTour teams' riders.
+ UAE Team Emirates controlled the race, aiming to set up Pogačar's victory.
+ Huang Chong studied Pogačar's riding style and stayed in the front group.
+ Pogačar attacked on Eagle's Beak Hill, with Huang Chong following.
+ Huang Chong held on to second place despite Pogačar's relentless pace.

Character Developments

+ Huang Chong demonstrated exceptional climbing and racing skills, matching Pogačar's pace.
+ Pogačar recognized Huang Chong as a serious rival and increased his pace to drop him.
+ Aldag, Huang Chong's directeur sportif, provided strategic guidance and calmed Huang Chong's impulsiveness.

Significant Themes

+ The intense competition and strategy in UCI WorldTour races.
+ The importance of teamwork and domestiques in supporting the leader.
+ The mental aspect of racing, including decision-making under pressure and managing fatigue.

Character Interactions

+ Huang Chong and Pogačar raced closely together, with Pogačar trying to drop Huang Chong.
+ Huang Chong and Aldag communicated throughout the race, with Aldag providing crucial advice.
+ Huang Chong's Bora-Hansgrohe teammates, Vlasov and Hindley, supported him until they could no longer keep up.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tadej Pogačar wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège, with Huang Chong finishing second in his debut Monument.
• Bora Team is satisfied with Huang Chong's performance, and his market value increases.
• Bora Team loses the Tour de Romandie to Ineos Grenadiers, causing frustration within the team.
• Huang Chong is assigned to the Eschborn–Frankfurt one-day race but not the Giro d'Italia.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong gains confidence and respect from fans and the team after his performance at Liège.
• Tadej Pogačar maintains his dominance but acknowledges Huang Chong's potential.
• Ralf Denk and Rolf Aldag express their dissatisfaction with the team's results and pressure to win.

Significant Themes

• Rivalry and competition among cyclists and teams.
• The importance of winning and achieving results in professional cycling.
• The balance between personal goals and team objectives.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Chen Junyi discuss his racing schedule and her plans for graduate school.
• Ralf Denk and Rolf Aldag discuss the team's performance and plans for upcoming races.
• Tadej Pogačar and Huang Chong are interviewed after Liège, with Pogačar acknowledging Huang Chong's strength and Huang Chong expressing his desire to challenge him in the future.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong competes in the Eschborn–Frankfurt one-day race, with Bora Team aiming to win on home turf.
• Bora Team's strategy involves wearing down other teams' riders on initial climbs, then having Huang Chong attack solo on the final steep climb.
• Huang Chong is ranked third in pre-race odds, but he and Bora Team aim to prove his strength.
• Adria, Bora's key domestique, unexpectedly attacks and gets away on the second Feldberg climb, catching everyone off guard.
• Huang Chong breaks away on the final Mammolshain climb, catching up to Adria, and they work together to win the race.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong: Proves his strength and tactical prowess, showing he can win one-day races despite being ranked third in odds.
• Adria: Demonstrates his ability by getting away solo and later working with Huang Chong to secure the win.
• Aldag (Bora Team director): Shows tactical brilliance by catching other teams off guard with his aggressive strategy.

Significant Themes

• Underdog story: Huang Chong, ranked third, proves his worth and wins against expectations.
• Teamwork: Bora Team's domestiques work together to tire out other teams and set up Huang Chong's victory.
• Tactics and strategy: Aldag's bold tactics catch other teams off guard and lead to Bora Team's victory.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Adria: Work together after Huang Chong catches up to Adria, securing Bora Team's victory.
• Huang Chong and other teams: Proves his strength and tactical ability, catching other teams off guard.
• Aldag and Bora Team riders: Communicates effectively, ensuring riders follow the team's strategy and achieve victory.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong and Adria win the final race before the Grand Tour season, with Huang Chong intentionally allowing Adria to take the victory.
• Bora Team decides not to participate in the Giro d'Italia, focusing on the Tour de France instead.
• Huang Chong is selected to race the Tour of Hungary, a Pro-level stage race, after the Giro.
• Huang Chong wins the Tour of Hungary, dominating the stage races and solidifying his position as a main rider.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong continues to grow in confidence and strength, becoming a leader within Bora Team.
• Adria accepts his role as a domestique to Huang Chong, admiring his humility and strength.
• Chen Junyi supports Huang Chong's racing decisions and advises him on his career progression.

Significant Themes

• The importance of team dynamics and respect among riders.
• The pursuit of personal goals within the context of a team's objectives.
• The commercial aspects of professional cycling and the influence of rider strength on team dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Adria's relationship grows stronger as they race together, with Huang Chong showing respect and consideration for Adria.
• Huang Chong and Chen Junyi discuss his racing schedule and career progression, with Chen Junyi offering guidance and support.
• Huang Chong interacts with other riders and teams during the Tour of Hungary, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the race.

• Huang Chong's aggressive climbing strategy on Kékes Peak in Stage 3 of the Tour of Hungary results in a solo victory and a significant lead in the general classification.
• Huang Chong wins Stage 4 with a powerful climb sprint, further solidifying his lead.
• In Stage 5, Huang Chong helps Bora Team's Buchmann secure second place in the general classification, while also winning the stage himself.
• Huang Chong sweeps all three jerseys (yellow, red, and white) in the Tour of Hungary, demonstrating his dominance in the race.
• Bora Team's management is impressed by Huang Chong's performance and decides to include him in their core lineup for future Grand Tours.
• Huang Chong's performance in the Tour of Hungary convinces Bora Team's owner, Ralph Denk, to support Aldag's plan to have Huang Chong train with and support their top leader, Primož Roglič, in the Critérium du Dauphiné in June.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After winning the Tour of Hungary, Huang Chong spends several weeks without racing, training daily and watching the Giro d’Italia with Chen Junyi.
• Aldag gradually moves him into Bora’s main training group alongside Primož Roglič, Aleksandr Vlasov, Jai Hindley, and other core riders. This signals that the team now considers Huang part of its leading lineup.
• Huang’s recent victories and improved statistics have raised his FTP to 460 watts and his power-to-weight ratio above 7.0, placing him near the level of the world’s strongest climbers. He is still below Pogačar and Vingegaard but may rival Evenepoel and Roglič on steep, explosive climbs.
• While watching Pogačar win the Giro d’Italia, Huang admires the pink jersey, custom bike, and the race’s distinctive “Infinite Cup” trophy.
• Huang considers buying Chen Junyi an expensive handbag to thank her for supporting his career, but she refuses, emphasizing practicality and warning about theft. She tells him that his victories are already meaningful gifts.
• Inspired by the Giro trophy, Huang promises to race the Giro the following year and try to win the Infinite Cup for Chen. She warmly accepts the promise.
• Bora holds a celebration banquet for Huang’s Tour of Hungary victory and Daniel Martínez’s second-place finish at the Giro.
• The team announces its Critérium du Dauphiné roster, which closely resembles its Tour de France lineup. Roglič is the leader, while Huang, Vlasov, Hindley, Matteo Sobrero, Bob Jungels, and Nico Denz form the supporting team.
• The Dauphiné is presented as the “Little Tour de France”: an elite eight-day race featuring difficult climbs throughout, including a hilly time trial and no true flat stage.
• Aldag assigns Huang as Roglič’s personal domestique, responsible for the decisive final pulls before summit finishes. Vlasov and Hindley will control the peloton earlier in the stages.
• Because Huang will conserve more energy than a rider tasked with controlling the entire peloton, he may have opportunities to pursue his own general-classification ambitions if Roglič struggles.
• The race begins on June 2, and the announcement of Huang’s prominent role causes major excitement among Chinese fans and international commentators. Many interpret the lineup as confirmation that he is being selected for the Tour de France.

2. Character Development

• Huang Chong: Moves from an impressive newcomer to a genuine core rider and potential Tour de France lieutenant. His growing power, victories, and confidence allow him to contemplate competing with established stars rather than merely supporting them. At the same time, he recognizes the pressure of riding beside a famous leader and remains determined to fulfill his duties.
• Primož Roglič: Although he has little direct interaction with Huang in the chapter, he is formally established as Bora’s central leader and Huang’s primary responsibility. His limited racing earlier in the season raises questions about whether he will arrive at peak form.
• Chen Junyi: Demonstrates practical judgment, emotional insight, and strong support for Huang. She sees through his intentions immediately, rejects unnecessary luxury, and encourages him to focus on his career without becoming obsessed with winning.
• Aldag: Shows increased trust in Huang by placing him in the core training group and assigning him an important strategic role at the Dauphiné. His instructions imply that Huang is now viewed as more than an ordinary domestique.
• Huang’s public standing: His selection dramatically improves his status among Chinese cycling fans, who now see him as a likely Tour de France participant rather than a rider overlooked for the Giro.

3. Significant Themes

• Rise and responsibility: Huang’s rapid progress brings not only prestige but also intense expectations. As a star rider’s personal domestique, every mistake could attract major criticism.
• Team hierarchy and recognition: The chapter illustrates how access to the leader’s training, meals, and travel group reflects a rider’s position within a professional team.
• Ambition versus duty: Huang is expected to sacrifice for Roglič, yet his role also preserves the possibility of attacking for himself if circumstances allow.
• Material gifts versus meaningful support: Chen rejects luxury as a measure of gratitude, arguing that Huang’s achievements and continued dedication matter more than expensive possessions.
• International development of cycling: Huang reflects on the greater difficulty and climbing intensity of European racing compared with China’s domestic calendar. He sees himself as a pioneer whose experience may eventually help narrow the gap.
• The prestige of cycling symbols: The pink jersey, custom bikes, championship jerseys, and the Infinite Cup represent the honor, history, and visual glamour associated with major victories.
• Strategic preparation: The Dauphiné serves as both a major competition and a rehearsal for the Tour de France, making team selection and rider roles especially significant.

4. Character Interactions

• Huang and Chen watch the Giro together and discuss Pogačar’s strength, Italian design, luxury brands, and cycling trophies.
• Chen accurately guesses that Huang is considering buying her a handbag, teasing him for being easy to read. Their exchange highlights their closeness and her practical personality.
• Chen reassures Huang that she values his victories rather than expensive gifts, while also telling him not to place excessive psychological pressure on himself.
• Huang responds by promising to win the Giro trophy for her the following year, creating an affectionate and motivating moment between them.
• Aldag gives Huang direct instructions before the Dauphiné: protect Roglič, position him before summit finishes, and perform the final climbing work. Huang confidently accepts the responsibility, and Aldag praises his attitude.
• Commentators Steve and Jimmy discuss Bora’s powerful lineup, especially the partnership between Roglič and Huang. Their enthusiasm reinforces Huang’s emergence as an internationally recognized core rider.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Stage 1: A flat stage designed for sprinters, won by Trek's Mads Pedersen.
• Stage 2: A mountain-top finish stage, won by Bora Team's Primož Roglič after Huang Chong's decisive lead-out.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong: Proves himself as a capable domestique, leading Primož Roglič to victory in Stage 2.
• Primož Roglič: Wins Stage 2 and takes the general classification lead, showing good form after returning from injury.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork: Huang Chong's role as a domestique highlights the importance of teamwork in cycling.
• Overcoming Adversity: Riders face challenging weather conditions, including dense fog, throughout the stages.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Primož Roglič: Huang Chong leads Primož Roglič to victory in Stage 2, strengthening their bond as teammates.
• Aldag (Bora Team Director) and Huang Chong: Aldag praises Huang Chong's performance and trusts him with leading Primož Roglič in Stage 2.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Stage 2 ended in heavy fog, obscuring the final sprint, but Roglič won and took the yellow jersey.
• Stage 3 saw Huang Chong lead Roglič to another victory, solidifying his lead in the general classification.
• Huang Chong's aggressive riding style and powerful muscles drew attention and admiration from commentators.

Character Developments

• Roglič maintains his lead in the general classification.
• Huang Chong demonstrates his strength and strategic thinking in positioning and leading out his leader.
• Evenepoel remains a strong contender, especially in the upcoming ITT stage.

Significant Themes

• Team dynamics and politics, with Huang Chong's growing influence and potential future rivalry with Roglič.
• The importance of strategic racing and energy management in multi-day races.

Character Interactions

• Roglič and Huang Chong continue to build a strong leader-lieutenant relationship.
• Other teams target Bora-Hansgrohe to prevent Huang Chong's lead-out tactics.
• Evenepoel remains a formidable rival, especially in time trials.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Chong leads Roglič to consecutive stage victories, forcing other teams to take notice.
• Bora Team's strength is significantly bolstered with two elite leaders, causing concern among other teams.
• Huang Chong wins the ITT stage but is beaten by Evenepoel, who overturns Roglič's overall lead.
• A massive crash in Stage 5 causes multiple withdrawals, including key riders like Kruijswijk and Durbridge.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong adapts to the UCI WorldTour and proves his worth as a valuable domestique and time trialist.
• Roglič's age is highlighted as he struggles to maintain his lead against Evenepoel.
• Bora Team's management puts pressure on Huang Chong to continue leading Roglič, causing him some displeasure.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for the overall title between Roglič, Evenepoel, and other contenders.
• The importance of teamwork and domestiques in stage racing.
• The impact of crashes and injuries on a team's chances in a race.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong and Roglič work together as leader and domestique, with Huang Chong helping Roglič build an advantage that Evenepoel later overturns.
• Bora Team's management interacts with Huang Chong, putting pressure on him to continue leading Roglič despite his displeasure.
• The crash in Stage 5 affects multiple riders and teams, changing the dynamics of the race.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A major crash during the Critérium du Dauphiné leaves many riders injured or forced to abandon the race. Primož Roglič, Bora’s leader, suffers a serious shoulder injury, while Huang Chong escapes with only a damaged bicycle. Eighteen riders withdraw over two stages, reducing the field to 130.
• Before Stage 6, Bora’s director Aldag assigns Huang to protect Roglič. He must conserve energy early, support Roglič through the mountains, and deliver him to the finish ahead of his rivals.
• During the stage, Roglič struggles to reach the energy gels in his jersey because of his shoulder injury. Huang offers to carry all of Roglič’s nutrition in his own pockets and feed him during the race. Roglič accepts, demonstrating the strong trust that has developed between them.
• Huang also guides Roglič safely down a dangerous descent after two breakaway riders crash. He carefully chooses safe lines and prevents Roglič, who has a history of crashes, from taking unnecessary risks.
• On the final HC climb, Huang attacks in response to an Ineos acceleration. His exceptional power allows him to break away from the peloton, despite riding at a pace few others can match.
• When Roglič attacks from behind with Ciccone, Jorgenson, and Derek Gee, Huang deliberately slows near the final kilometer so Roglič can catch him. He then launches a powerful lead-out, dropping the other contenders and helping Roglič win the stage.
• Huang sacrifices the stage bonus and personal victory, allowing Roglič to reclaim the Yellow Jersey. Roglič gains more than a minute over Evenepoel and takes a commanding overall lead.
• Stage 7, the queen stage, features extreme climbing and a summit finish at Samoëns 1600. Bora must control the race to secure Roglič’s overall victory.
• With five kilometers left on the final HC climb, Huang launches an all-out attack and brings Roglič away from the peloton. They catch and pass the breakaway riders while dropping rivals such as Jorgenson, Ciccone, and Lazkano.
• Huang’s aggressive strategy effectively ends the overall title battle early, giving Roglič an advantage of roughly two minutes.
• On the final stage, Roglič unexpectedly cracks on a climb. Huang abandons his own chance to improve his position and slows to support Roglič to the finish. Roglič still wins the Dauphiné overall title by 1 minute and 20 seconds over Jorgenson.
• Roglič also wins four stages and the Green Jersey. Huang finishes tenth overall, earns 165 UCI points, and raises his FTP to 463 watts.
• Bora rewards Huang’s performance by naming him the team’s second rider for the Tour de France.
• The chapter ends with the announcement that Red Bull has acquired shares in the team, which will officially be renamed Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe.

2. Character Developments

• Huang Chong develops from a promising domestique into a rider capable of challenging the world’s best climbers and potentially competing for a Grand Tour title himself. His power, tactical intelligence, composure, and willingness to sacrifice personal success make him invaluable to Bora.
• Huang’s decision to carry Roglič’s nutrition and his disciplined descending show that he is not merely strong but also highly responsible and attentive to his leader’s needs.
• Primož Roglič demonstrates resilience by continuing to race despite his shoulder injury. His trust in Huang deepens, and he benefits directly from Huang’s selfless support. However, his late collapse on the final stage shows that his injury and accumulated fatigue still limit him.
• Aldag increasingly recognizes Huang’s extraordinary potential. He begins imagining Huang as a future Tour de France champion and realizes that Huang may surpass Bora’s original development prospect, Lipowitz.
• Huang’s reputation changes among fans, commentators, and rival teams. He is no longer viewed as an ordinary rookie or domestique but as a potential co-leader and future Grand Tour contender.

3. Significant Themes

• Self-sacrifice versus personal ambition: Huang repeatedly gives up stage victories, time bonuses, and a higher overall placing to maximize Roglič’s success.
• Trust and teamwork: Roglič’s willingness to entrust Huang with his nutrition reflects the deep trust necessary in professional cycling. Their victories depend on precise cooperation rather than individual talent alone.
• The cost of competition: Crashes, injuries, nosebleeds, exhaustion, and withdrawals emphasize the physical danger and brutality of elite cycling.
• Emergence of greatness: Huang’s performances suggest the rise of a new cycling star whose abilities may eventually rival or surpass established champions such as Roglič, Pogačar, and Vingegaard.
• Team strategy and sacrifice: The chapter highlights how domestiques can determine a race’s outcome even when they do not receive the public glory. Huang’s work makes Roglič’s victories possible.
• Ambition and calculated risk: Huang’s attack on the final HC climb is a desperate gamble, but his confidence in his own strength allows Bora to secure the race before the final stage.

4. Character Interactions

• Huang and Roglič: Huang protects Roglič, carries his nutrition, manages his descents, and provides decisive lead-outs. Roglič responds with complete trust and rewards Huang’s efforts by relying on him throughout the mountain stages.
• Huang and Aldag: Aldag directs Huang through the team radio, ordering him to conserve energy, protect Roglič, attack at the right moment, and finally slow down so Roglič can take the victory. Their interaction illustrates the tension between Huang’s personal strength and his obligations as a domestique.
• Huang and rival teams: His attack shocks the other teams, forcing their leaders to chase. His strength exposes the weakness of Evenepoel, Rodriguez, Ciccone, and other contenders.
• Huang and the cycling audience: Fans and commentators recognize that he could have competed for the overall title himself. They begin calling for Bora to use him in a dual-leader role at the Tour de France.
• Aldag and Bora’s future: Aldag compares Huang with Lipowitz and concludes that Huang may become the central figure in Bora’s future, potentially challenging the dominance of Pogačar and Vingegaard.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Red Bull's takeover of Bora Team brings more attention and resources, especially for Huang Chong.
• Huang Chong becomes the face of Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe in China.
• The team's branding changes to reflect Red Bull's influence.
• Huang Chong's upcoming Tour de France appearance sparks excitement in China's cycling community.
• Huang Lingshan's college entrance examination scores are released, leading to discussions about her future.

Character Developments

• Huang Chong: Gains more attention and resources from Red Bull's takeover, intensifying his ITT training for the Tour de France.
• Huang Lingshan: Despite her poor scores, she remains carefree and focused on the upcoming Tour de France.
• Huang Xiaocong: Shows maturity and responsibility in advising his sister about her future.

Significant Themes

• The influence of sponsorship and branding in professional sports.
• The importance of education and career prospects for young people.
• The impact of family dynamics on individual choices and futures.

Character Interactions

• Huang Chong interacts with his team, receiving more attention and resources due to Red Bull's influence.
• Huang Lingshan interacts with her family, discussing her future education and career prospects.
• Huang Xiaocong interacts with his family, offering guidance to his sister about her future.