Chapter 446: None of Them Will Get Away Today

Chapter 446: Chapter 213: None of Them Will Get Away Today

On their team, Vine and Soler had been in numerous breakaways, so their climbing points were very high, second only to Van Aert, who had been monopolizing the Green and Polka Dot Jerseys through his constant attacks.

Today’s stage featured two First Category Climbs. If either Vine or Soler could successfully snatch the ten points from each, for a total of twenty, they could seize the Polka Dot Jersey.

Although Van Aert held both jerseys before today, everyone knew that once the race hit the true mountain stages, there was no way he could hang on to the Polka Dot Jersey.

And so, as the race progressed, shortly after the breakaway group formed, Vine of the UAE Team launched a solo attack from the peloton, quickly catching the six-man group up the road, which hadn’t pulled too far ahead.

His goal was precisely to strip Van Aert of the Polka Dot Jersey.

Huang Chong also held two classification jerseys, but the White Jersey was currently being worn by proxy by the leader of the Ineos Grenadiers Team: Carlos Rodríguez.

As for his climbing points, he currently had very few.

After all, during the Vuelta a España, he had let breakaway riders take the stage victory far too often.

He hadn’t launched many attacks himself, so naturally, he hadn’t been able to rack up climbing points.

Of course, if he wanted the Polka Dot Jersey, he certainly had a chance, but with his general classification position exceptionally stable, there was simply no need.

As Vine broke away, the race reached the first of the First Category Climbs. With just 4km remaining to the summit, Soler, wearing the Polka Dot Jersey, launched a direct attack on the ascent.

Woods of the Israel-Premier Tech Team, wearing the Canadian national champion’s jersey; Amiel of the Decathlon Team; Cataño of the Quick Step Team; and Martínez of the Red Bull Bora Team all followed immediately.

If Vine’s breakaway was to contend for climbing points, then Soler’s attack was clearly a move to push ahead on the climb. The goal was to reach the summit and wait to link up with his team leader, Adam Yates, to reenact the breakaway tactics from Stage 9.

But the teams ranked first and second in the general classification, Red Bull Bora and the Decathlon Team, were determined not to let the stage victory slip away again. They immediately dispatched their Core Deputy Commanders to give chase.

And things played out just as they expected. With 2.2km remaining to the summit of the First Category Climb, Adam Yates did indeed launch an attack, attempting to bridge to Soler up ahead.

Huang Chong watched their moves unfold but remained unfazed.

In today’s race, it was clear every team was itching for a fight.

Especially the Quick Step Team, which had been so low-key they were practically invisible before. Today, their aggressive intentions were uncharacteristically blatant.

Not only did they send Asgreen into the breakaway from the very start, but they also took the initiative to form a train at the front of the peloton to control the pace.

These uncharacteristic moves were undeniable proof that they had planned specific attack tactics for their leader, Landa, on today’s stage.

With another team willing to control the pace, there was no need for the Red Bull Bora Team to fight for control and burn out their own support riders. They quickly adjusted their strategy to focus on defense.

Aldag was true to his word. In response to Soler’s attack, he immediately sent his lieutenant, Martínez, to give chase.

However, there is always a gap between tactical planning and the reality of a race.

Today, the UAE Team was riding as if they were on the warpath; the waves of attacks came one after another.

With 1.2km remaining to the summit, just as it seemed Soler and Adam Yates had successfully broken away from the peloton, Sivakov launched yet another attack.

Huang Chong was well aware of Sivakov’s climbing ability.

The guy was definitely one of Pogačar’s most essential lieutenants. He not only shouldered crucial pace-setting duties in the Tour de France, but he also led the way for Pogačar in major classics like the Tour of Lombardy.

His consistency on the climbs was also incredibly high.

He chose his moment to attack just after a 10.1% gradient, when no one had yet recovered from the brutal ramp.

The rest of the way to the summit was a steady 7.6% gradient.

Attacking now was a calculated move to catch all the other team leaders off guard.

Most importantly, the pace today had been incredibly fast. Soler’s earlier attack had already dropped most of the support riders on the climb, thinning the main group down to about twenty riders.

So, for Sivakov’s attack to be this effective, it was clear they had rehearsed and calculated this move in advance.

When O’Connor, Mas, Carapaz, Landa, and the others saw Sivakov attack, none of them responded.

But Huang Chong didn’t hesitate for a second. He decisively got out of the saddle and latched onto his wheel.

‘These guys are absolute fools!!’

‘If they let four UAE riders get away and form a small breakaway group, the rest of the peloton will be absolutely toyed with later.’

The moment he moved, the other team leaders had no choice but to grimace, grit their teeth, and force themselves to follow.

Steve, broadcasting live, was thrilled to see Huang Chong attack so early.

This was the kind of aggressive racing they had been waiting for, and it was happening so early in the stage.

He said excitedly:

“This is the kind of race pace we truly want to see in a top-tier Grand Tour.

As the best World Tour team of the year, UAE should be the ones taking the initiative with attacks like this!”