Chapter 346 - 180: A Successful Podium Finish at His Tour de France Debut

Besides, even if he gave chase, it would be difficult for him to win the S1 Stage.

After all, sprinters like Pedersen from Trek Team and Van Aert from Visma Team were still in the peloton.

There was no need for him to ruin Bardet’s shot at victory only to do the dirty work for the other GC teams.

As Bardet broke away, Huang Chong also got out of the saddle, put in a few hard pedal strokes, and surged out of the main group.

This startled the Visma Team, who was controlling the pace, and they immediately accelerated in pursuit.

However, just as Huang Chong rode out of the peloton, he quickly slowed down.

This was because on the steepest section of this second-category climb, teams were permitted to set up a feed zone with their support staff.

He was just going to grab a water bottle from the support staff.

After successfully grabbing a bottle for himself and one for Roglič, he immediately returned to the peloton.

This prompted the Visma Team manager to curse:

"Damn it, he was just getting a water bottle! Why make such a big move? I thought he was launching an attack!"

But in truth, it wasn’t just the Visma Team that had suffered greatly at Huang Chong’s hands.

The UAE Team had also lost championships to Huang Chong in many races this year—

That was why their domestique, Sivakov, had reacted just as quickly, immediately surging to the front of the main group to counter Huang Chong.

"Huang, that move of yours really spooked the Visma and UAE teams. They thought you were going to attack with Bardet."

After Huang Chong returned to the team line, Vlasov, who was pulling at the front, couldn’t help but joke with him.

Huang Chong shrugged at his words, though inwardly he wasn’t happy at all.

Having these two top-tier teams marking him so cautiously was not a good thing.

It meant that getting a result at the Tour de France would be significantly more difficult.

’Damn it. While I’m not holding out much hope for the overall victory in this Tour de France, my main goals are the White Jersey and a spot on the GC podium.’

’But the Yellow Jersey is the ultimate prize, and I definitely want to find a chance to wear it, even for a day, during the first week.’

’Wearing that thing, even for a single day, is a supreme honor.’

’Plus, it would make my market value skyrocket instantly.’

’Evenepoel is also racing his first Tour de France this year, and he’s never worn the Yellow Jersey.’

’If I can wear it, the team probably won’t even need to consider signing him and starting an internal rivalry!’

Soon, with Bardet having attacked, the gap between the peloton and the breakaway group was down to about one minute and twenty seconds.

However, in the next forty-odd kilometers, only two Third Category Climbs remained.

By now, three of the original six breakaway riders who had attacked at the start had been reeled in by the main group.

Only Madouas, Abrahamsen, and Vandenbroucke remained out front.

The main group was now composed almost entirely of GC teams.

Huang Chong glanced at the composition of the peloton. As expected, Visma, UAE, his own team, and Ineos still had the most riders.

Meanwhile, a rider like van der Poel, the top classics specialist, had been dropped long ago during the repeated climbs.

He was now five or six minutes behind their group and definitely had no chance of contending for the stage win.

The Visma Team took control of the pace at this point. Firstly, as the defending champions, it would be impolite not to take a single pull at the front for the entire race.

Secondly, they had Van Aert in their lineup.

By controlling the pace now, they were clearly setting up Van Aert for a shot at the stage victory.

As someone who knew how this was supposed to play out, Huang Chong naturally chose to watch on coolly.

For now, everything was proceeding according to the historical script. As long as he didn’t have a chance to win, he had no intention of throwing a wrench in the works.

Just as Bardet successfully linked up with his teammate with about 40km to go, Ben Healy of the EF Education Team launched an attack on the penultimate Third Category Climb.

But the kid’s form this year was a far cry from what it would be next year.

In the end, under the relentless pace set by the Visma riders, he was unsurprisingly and mercilessly reeled in by the peloton just before the summit of the final Third Category Climb.

After the last Third Category Climb, the Côte de San Marino, the peloton began a high-speed descent.

At this point, all the breakaway riders had been caught, except for Team DSM’s Vandenbroucke and Bardet, who were still out front.

But the gap between the peloton and these two riders consistently held at around one minute.

With 10km to go, the race entered a flat section, with the Visma Team still controlling the pace.

By the 5km mark, the peloton had been stretched into a long single-file line on the flat roads, and the gap to the two breakaway riders was down to just 35 seconds.

Riding in the middle of the pack, Huang Chong’s energy was running low after 200km of draining climbs.

But he knew that the final 2km of the stage was filled with tight corners leading to the finish.

So, after a moment’s thought, he decisively used the straight section at the 3km mark to start accelerating, dropping Roglič and moving up to the front of the group by himself.

His move was undoubtedly being watched closely by all the teams and fans.

UAE and Visma Team, in particular, immediately sent their own domestiques to mark him.

But once Huang Chong reached the front of the group, he quickly stabilized his pace and began drafting to conserve energy, making no further move to accelerate.

As for the fans watching the race, they were all wondering:

’He’s a GC Cyclist. Why is he suddenly pushing to the front, even leaving his own team leader behind? What’s he up to?’

The answer was soon revealed.

As the race hit the 2km-to-go mark.

The peloton began to accelerate frantically, desperately chasing the two Team DSM riders. Bardet and Vandenbroucke, now only 15 seconds ahead, were the first to enter the series of corners.

Seizing the opportunity as the corner approached, Huang Chong decisively got out of the saddle for a couple of pedal strokes. He took an incredibly smooth line through the corner, moving up to the second position in the peloton, right on the wheel of Jorgenson, who was leading the chase.

Behind him was a large contingent of Trek Cyclists, along with Bettiol of the EF Education Team.

Jorgenson then accelerated furiously, pushing the pace to 55 km/h on the flat as he began to chase down the breakaway riders.

But with the corners coming thick and fast in this final section, the gap held steady at around 12 seconds, refusing to shrink any further.

At the 1km mark, a massive U-shaped bend appeared before them.

As Huang Chong entered the bend, he glanced over his shoulder at the group behind him. He saw that Van Aert, Pogačar, Pedersen, and Bettiol were all still in the middle of the pack, a dozen or so meters behind him.

Seizing the moment, he made his move. In the final corner, he shot past Jorgenson to take the lead of the peloton.

Then, using his newly-perfected, top-tier cornering skills—rated at 90 points—he hugged the very edge of the course, nearly scraping the wall of spectators, and instantly opened a seven- or eight-meter gap on the riders behind him.

"Oh, Jesus!!

The Chinese rider has launched an early attack at the 1km arch!!!

He instantly gapped Jorgenson in the corner!!!

Look at that cornering line! It’s incredible!!

His wheel is practically scraping against the guardrail on the outside of the road.

In that last corner, Huang Chong has opened up a nearly five-second gap on the peloton!!

Ah, it’s a shame, Bardet and his teammate Vandenbroucke had too much of a lead and have already crossed the finish line—

The main group is launching its sprint!!!

The final 200 meters!!!

Van Aert opens up his sprint from the left side of the road, and Pogačar is right on his wheel!

Can they catch Huang Chong?!!"

As Steve screamed wildly on the live broadcast, Huang Chong used his last ounce of energy and began a desperate sprint!

He could feel the main group rapidly closing in from behind.

After all, he had launched his sprint 1km out. By the final 100 meters, the intense anaerobic effort had turned his muscles to stone.

But he didn’t look back. He didn’t care if he would be overtaken. He just kept pouring out every last bit of his strength, charging toward the finish line that was now just feet away!

And amidst a tsunami of cheers from both sides of the road, just as his front wheel crossed the finish line, a green figure brushed past him, practically touching his side.

It was none other than Van Aert of the Visma Team!

The gap between them was less than half a wheel’s length!!

But in the end, Huang Chong, who had chosen to attack early in the final corner, had the last laugh, taking third place in the S1 Stage of the Tour de France.

He had made it onto the podium in his very first Tour de France stage!

He also earned a four-second time bonus for his third-place finish, along with 110 UCI points.

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