Chapter 356 - 183: The First ITT Stage Arrives

All the feelings Huang Chong had long held for Chen Junyi came pouring out.

It was a mix of gratitude and profound romantic love.

Hearing this, Chen Junyi gently rubbed his firm, broad back with her slender hand and said softly,

"I understand your feelings.

We don’t need to be so formal with each other. This is what I should be doing, after all!

You’re the one out there on the course, fighting and struggling. You’re the one doing the hard work.

All I do is take care of things for you at home. What’s that compared to what you do?

I know you can win all the championships you truly desire!"

Huang Chong knew Chen Junyi wasn’t the type to express her love with direct words.

But he understood that this was her way of agreeing to be his partner for life.

After their embrace, they separated. Huang Chong smiled, nodded, and said,

"I’ll keep working hard.

If not this year, then next year, or the year after that—

One day, I’ll beat all my rivals!

I promise you!"

"You don’t have to promise. No matter what happens, I’ll always be here to support you with everything I have!"

...

Soon after Huang Chong confessed his feelings to Chen Junyi, Aldag and the others returned to the team bus.

He then hugged all the team staff, including the boss, Denke, before getting on the trainer to cool down. While he did, he waited for the other riders to finish.

This mountain stage was incredibly difficult; he had opened up a massive time gap on most of the other riders.

By the time the last group of riders, the one with Cavendish, crossed the finish line, a full 36 minutes had passed.

Fortunately, the interviews and podium ceremonies for the stage winner and the other jersey holders didn’t have to wait for every rider to cross the line.

The post-race interview was, for the most part, the usual affair.

The reporters’ questions were predictable, with no real surprises.

In contrast, the interviews with the second and third-place finishers for the stage were far more interesting.

"Tadej, congratulations on taking second place in this stage.

Your attack on the Galibier Pass was nothing short of brilliant.

I know you can’t be satisfied with this result today.

But did you expect to be caught by Jonas and Huang Chong after your solo attack?"

Pogačar gave a wry smile and shrugged.

But he was a seasoned veteran; he wasn’t about to get dejected over losing one stage.

He answered candidly,

"I half-expected it.

After my attack, the two rivals behind me kept the gap under ten seconds the entire time.

Huang Chong of the Red Bull Bora Team is an exceptional descender, just as he is an explosive finisher.

With him leading Jonas on the descent, I couldn’t pull away from them, no matter how hard I tried.

The final section was flat, and by rotating pulls, they could draft off each other and conserve energy.

With a lead of less than ten seconds, I just didn’t have enough of an advantage to hold them off solo to the finish!"

"Right. Were you surprised that the other two riders seemed to team up to chase you down?"

"To be honest, I’m not surprised.

If I were in their shoes and a GC contender was up the road in a solo break, I’d work with the other contenders to chase him down too.

We’re all trying to win in the end, aren’t we?"

After Pogačar’s interview, the reporter turned to Vingegaard, who had finished third, and asked:

"Jonas, congratulations on taking third in the stage.

I imagine it must be a huge relief that you weren’t dropped by Tadej today. You’re now only two seconds behind him in the overall standings, right?

Can you tell us what you and Huang Chong of the Red Bull Bora Team said to each other on the Galibier Pass?

Were you two discussing a plan on the fly to chase down Tadej?

On the live broadcast, we all saw you and Huang Chong appear to have a brief conversation!"

Vingegaard replied with a faint, candid smile,

"Yes, I’m definitely relieved with today’s result.

I originally thought that after Tadej opened up a gap on the Galibier Pass, he was going to drop me completely and the gap would just get bigger.

Luckily, Huang Chong from the Red Bull Bora Team was able to stay with me on the final steep section of the climb.

After we crested the summit, he suggested we work together to chase Tadej. I thought it was a viable plan, so I agreed.

And looking back, our impromptu plan really paid off!"

"We certainly did. The results speak for themselves.

Even though you’re on different teams, you two worked together perfectly during the chase.

It was an exceptional chase. Thank you for putting on such an exciting race and keeping the GC battle so thrilling!

I’m also curious about Huang Chong. He’s new to the World Tour this year, yet he’s already achieving incredible results—he’s even leading you and Tadej in the overall standings.

His descending skills and his Sprinting Burst are particularly incredible. Are you worried he can maintain this dominant form all the way to the end?