Chapter 452: Vuelta a España Finale, the GC Triple Strike is Here

Chapter 452: Chapter 215: Vuelta a España Finale, the GC Triple Strike is Here

After all, the professional analysis of road cycling races from these two commentators had always been considered authoritative.

The final results of many races had often proven their predictions to be incredibly accurate.

So, on the domestic race forums, whenever an enthusiastic user reposted the praise these top commentators had for Huang Chong, it always sparked heated discussions among cycling fans.

[After today’s stage, the commentators on Europe Sport said that starting next year, and for a long time to come, Huang Chong will be able to compete with both Vingegaard and Pogačar. What does everyone think about that?]

[I’ll be watching from my bed.]

[Don’t joke, guy above. Let’s be rational here. I think the commentators on Europe Sport have a perfectly valid point.

Never mind the fact that in the Vuelta a España, Huang Chong is already thrashing all the other teams’ leaders. He’s basically untouchable.

He also beat Vingegaard in the Tour de France.

As for Pogačar, although there still seemed to be a considerable gap between them in the Tour de France, I feel like Huang Chong was at a disadvantage. It was his first Grand Tour, and his team’s roster of support riders wasn’t as strong as UAE’s.

Next year, Huang Chong won’t be the same rider he is this year. Once he completely adapts to the pace of a Grand Tour, and with the Red Bull Bora Team making the necessary reinforcements and adjustments to its lineup, he’ll definitely have the strength to challenge Pogačar head-on next year.]

[Long post, but I agree.]

[I also agree with the Europe Sport commentators’ point of view. While it’s true Huang Chong’s second-place finish at the Tour de France was influenced by Vingegaard’s injury, his performance in the Vuelta a España can be directly compared to Pogačar’s performance in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

The only uncertainty now is this: Pogačar wore the pink jersey for 20 days in the Giro d’Italia and also won six stages.

For Huang Chong, it looks like wearing the overall leader’s Red Jersey all the way to the finish line is pretty much a sure thing. What I’m really curious about, though, is how many stage wins he can still rack up in the final week.]

…

「September 2nd.」

The Vuelta a España had reached its second rest day.

Although the riders were all doing their best to rest and recuperate for the final week of the race, the team leaders were inevitably asked some rather pointed questions by reporters during the rest-day press conferences.

For instance, O’Connor of the Decathlon Team, who was second overall but whose advantage over third place was steadily shrinking, was asked how he planned to challenge for and take the overall leader’s Red Jersey in the final week. He responded directly at the press conference with a bitter, self-deprecating smile:

“Rather than answer your question about how to take the overall leader’s Red Jersey, I think my current goal should be to figure out how to hold on to second place overall—or even just a spot on the final podium. Those are far more realistic goals.

I’m not trying to sell myself short, nor am I just trying to sing the praises of the Red Bull Bora leader. We are all Professional Cyclists, and we have our duties.

I certainly won’t give up while the race is still on—

But to expect me, while nine minutes behind, to still be thinking about how to overcome such a huge deficit… that’s a bit of wishful thinking.

I can say this clearly: the Vuelta a España overall title is slipping further and further away, not just for me, but for the general classification riders on other teams as well.

It’s not that we haven’t tried to compete hard against Huang Chong, but his performance in this Vuelta a España has simply been a cut above everyone else’s.

We just have to accept that as an objective fact, right?”

Meanwhile, the Movistar Team’s leader, Mas, was asked a similar question.

Mas stated bluntly:

“I honestly can’t imagine—and I’ve never encountered—a young rider just joining the World Tour who can display such terrifying dominance in his very first season.

Tadej’s and Jonas’s rookie seasons weren’t nearly this dominant.

If I remember correctly, in Tadej’s first season, despite an already outstanding performance, he ‘only’ finished third overall in the Vuelta a España, right?

But look at this young rider from China. He’s been fighting his way through the World Tour circuit, and he’s been winning titles all along the way!

To achieve so many results and honors in a single season, from beginning to end… That’s more than countless riders could hope to achieve in their entire careers—

And now you’re asking me to take the overall leader’s Red Jersey from him when I’m 11 minutes behind in the general classification. Honestly, I don’t mean to be sarcastic—

but truly, only God can answer that question for you.

I’ve been competing professionally for many years. I know very well how important it is to stay mentally sound on the race course.

Of course, I hope a miracle can happen for me too!

But there’s a difference between a miracle and a fantasy, after all.

Miracles can still be achieved through patience, luck, and waiting.

But if I, as a Professional Cyclist, start indulging in fantasies, then I believe that would be the beginning of my own self-destruction!”

…

「September 3rd.」

After a short break for the second rest day, the final week of the race began.

For Stage 16, the riders would travel from Luanco to the Vuelta a España’s famous Kovadonga Lake.

The stage covered 181 kilometers with a total of 4,085 meters of climbing.

That much elevation gain made it clear this was a difficult mountain stage.

However, as it was the first race day of the final week, Huang Chong had no intention of going on the attack right from the start, even with the stage finishing on an HC Level mountaintop climb.