Chapter 285 - 166: Still Pedaling Seated on a 19% Climb? Another Pogačar?

If Bora couldn’t, or wouldn’t, offer him a commensurate return, then there was no way in hell he would commit to a long-term future with the team.

He was a Professional Cyclist, not a volunteer. He wasn’t about to work for free!

His current rookie contract was a perfect example. While he earned bonus prize money for every stage win and overall victory on top of his base salary, those earnings were nothing compared to what he was worth.

Given his current fame and achievements, Bora was making an absolute killing off him commercially, raking in profits many times over. He didn’t owe the team a thing.

A commercial team was a business. The relationship between a rider and the team was supposed to be a win-win partnership of equals. There was no room for sentimental nonsense like being a "one-team man"—that was all bullshit.

Having followed the NBA and the World Tour for years, Huang Chong knew this like the back of his hand.

Of course, the real reason he had chosen the Bora Team was because, using his Eye of God, he knew Red Bull was about to acquire half of the team’s shares. In the future, money would be no object.

So no matter how big his reputation grew, there was no way Bora wouldn’t be able to afford his contract.

After all, in his previous life, after the 2025 season, the plan to back Roglič for a GC victory had failed spectacularly. Not only was Aldag—the man who pushed for the deal—fired right after the Tour de France, but Red Bull even paid a €10 million buyout to the Quick Step Team to poach Evenepoel from their rivals!

Of course, with his own meteoric rise in this life, whether Bora would still need to spend a fortune on Evenepoel was another question entirely!

Back to the matter at hand. When Huang Chong arrived at the lab, his attending physician, Charlie, conducted a thorough examination. After careful observation, he finally confirmed that Huang Chong had indeed made a full recovery. Both Charlie and Aldag were, without a doubt, stunned!

"If the machines in the lab aren’t broken, then Huang’s arm has indeed healed completely."

Charlie held Huang Chong’s X-rays, studying them intently. He carefully compared them with the films taken at the hospital in Belgium. After confirming there was no mistake, he said with a sigh of amazement:

"Huang, you’re full of miracles. Even your injuries heal faster than anyone else’s.

If you weren’t standing right here in front of me, I’d find it impossible to believe someone like you could even exist.

But facts are facts, and as a doctor, I have to trust the scientific evidence.

However, my personal recommendation is this: even though your arm is as good as new, the recovery period was incredibly short.

If you’re really in a rush to get back to racing, you shouldn’t jump straight into a high-intensity competition!"

These last words from Charlie were ostensibly directed at Huang Chong, but there was no doubt he was really speaking to Aldag, who stood nearby.

Aldag didn’t say much. After he and Huang Chong returned to the team’s conference room, he got straight to the point:

"Congratulations, Huang. You’ve passed Charlie’s medical assessment.

But Charlie is one of the most respected doctors in all of Germany, especially in the field of orthopedics.

Did you know that before we hired him, he had extensive clinical experience? He was a senior M.D. at a top-tier hospital.

So I believe his words carry a great deal of weight!"

Huang Chong was momentarily speechless at this and chose to remain silent.

’What is this crap? I’m a hundred percent recovered, and they’re still pulling this!’

But he couldn’t be bothered to explain. He just asked:

"Director, just be straight with me. Which race are you planning for my comeback?"

Aldag gave him a long look. He pulled up the course profiles for the first two races of the Ardennes Triple Crown—the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne—on his computer before replying:

"I know you’re eager to race, so I certainly won’t keep you on the sidelines deliberately.

But I think it would be better for you to make your comeback at Flèche Wallonne.

Here’s why:

First, Flèche Wallonne is held after the Amstel Gold Race.

The riders who compete in the whole series will have already expended a significant amount of energy, which will give you a major advantage in terms of stamina.

As you know, after Paris-Roubaix, all the riders had a full week of rest. They’re all at peak fitness right now.

But you’re just coming back from injury. There’s no need to go head-to-head with them right out of the gate!

Second, the Flèche Wallonne course itself is shorter, only 198 kilometers.

The Amstel Gold Race, on the other hand, is 253.6 kilometers long, with 33 officially designated climbs.

And yet, the final five kilometers are basically flat.

If you can’t create a gap from the peloton, you’ll have to contend with other teams’ riders in a flat sprint.

I think that’s too risky.

Flèche Wallonne, however, is completely different. Although its climbs are much harder than those in the Amstel Gold Race, strictly speaking, there are only three climbing sections.

The only thing is, starting from the 110-kilometer mark, the final two climbs are part of a circuit in Huy City that you have to ride four times. But that still only adds up to nine climbs in total, doesn’t it?

Most importantly, the finish of Flèche Wallonne is the famous summit climb on the Wall of Huy.

It’s incredibly difficult, but it’s perfect for you. You’re a GC Cyclist, after all, aren’t you?"

After listening to Aldag’s long-winded explanation, Huang Chong knew he had no choice.

He had just returned from injury; the team was never going to let him race the full triple-header. Getting to ride in two of the three races was already the best possible outcome.

From a scheduling standpoint, the most logical combination would have been the first race, the Amstel Gold Race, and the final one, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After all, skipping Flèche Wallonne in the middle would give a rider a full week to rest—