Chapter 396 196: Brother Lü and Coach Han, Freaked Out by Evenepoel

"Hello, Coach Han. Hello to all the leaders!"

After Huang Chong arrived at the National Team's headquarters, he warmly greeted the head coach of the cycling program and the other senior leaders.

Although he hadn't traveled from the Capital with the rest of the group from China, he was still an officially registered member of the Zhejiang Province Sports Bureau. And since he would be competing in the Olympics alongside his fellow Chinese athletes, he'd be spending the next while with them.

Fortunately, the organizers in Paris had already arranged his accommodations based on the registration list.

As for Chen Junyi, who was traveling with him, they had made their relationship official after he confessed his feelings during the Tour de France. They had been living together since returning to Germany, so the young couple would simply continue to stay together.

They weren't seventeen or eighteen-year-old kids. Since their relationship had developed naturally, there was no need to be secretive or shy about it.

If it weren't for Chen Junyi's imminent departure to study in the United Kingdom, at their age, they could have seriously discussed marriage after returning to China together.

When Coach Han saw the dashing and talented Huang Chong arrive, a look of deep satisfaction spread across his face.

He shook Huang Chong's hand, a fond, emotional smile on his face as he spoke:

"Huang Chong, I've watched every single one of your races this year. I have to say, you've truly done our country's road cycling program proud in front of all the major cycling powerhouses in Europe."

"Coach Han, you're too kind. I just do my best to ride well in every race!"

"That may be true, but you've won so many important World Tour races and just took second place in the general classification of the Tour de France. With achievements like these, I'm afraid it will be difficult for anyone else from our country to replicate them in the next twenty years.

I originally thought that after you moved from the domestic league to a World Tour Team, you'd need at least a year or two to adjust and get used to the racing pace here.

But I really didn't expect your own ability to be so great that you've managed a completely seamless transition.

Looking at it now, you must have been holding back in the domestic league last year, right?"

Faced with Coach Han's string of compliments, Huang Chong could only smile humbly and reply:

"Coach Han, you're really giving me too much credit. The team actually gave me plenty of opportunities and time to adjust this year.

For example, the first race was the Tour of Australia. Looking back now, in terms of both the race itself and the difficulty of the stage terrain, it was probably the easiest of all the week-long races on the World Tour.

After that, they sent me to the United Arab Emirates to get an early start adapting to consecutive high-mountain climbs. That served as a good buffer and helped me acclimate to the intensity before I started racing in Europe.

Otherwise, if I had jumped straight from the domestic league into European races, especially top-tier events like the Tour de France or the Tour de Dauphine, I definitely would have struggled to adapt!"

Hearing Huang Chong's explanation, Coach Han nodded in agreement.

In any field, an adjustment period is essential when you're making a move overseas.

But for Huang Chong to seize the development opportunities given by his World Tour Team in his very first year, firmly establish himself on the World Tour circuit, and even show the potential to become the team's Core Commander—that was all down to his own hard training and daily perseverance.

As the head coach of the National Team, he knew very well that the training regimen of a World Tour Team was definitely much more intense than what they had in China.

For Huang Chong to adapt so quickly was, in itself, very impressive.

He reached out and patted Huang Chong on the shoulder. After a bit more small talk, he steered the conversation toward the official business of the Olympics, asking:

"So tell me, Huang Chong, with both Pogačar and Vingegaard not competing in the upcoming Olympics, are you confident you can get on the podium?

Also, if there's anything you need from the National Team, just say the word.

I'll have the entire team give you their full support and build our race strategy around you."

'In truth, Huang Chong didn't have any expectations for team tactics.'

After all, this was the Olympics. Only true cycling powerhouses like Belgium and France got four entry spots, allowing them to assemble a relatively complete roster for tactical coordination. Most other countries only had one or two riders participating.

The race would surely be dominated by a chaotic free-for-all between individual nations, so tactics would hardly play a role.

However, Huang Chong definitely needed logistical support.

For example, if he had a mechanical failure, could the National Team provide a replacement bike as quickly as possible?

Or would they station staff at fixed feed zones along the road to provide him with supplies?

This was especially true for the final part of the road race: the circuit around Montmartre after returning to the Paris City Center. The cobbled climb was located about 10km from the finish line, and countries were allowed to set up roadside support there.

The National Team would of course have to send someone there to give him supplies. That way, he could ensure he had enough energy in the final tens of kilometers to compete for a podium spot.

So, Huang Chong explained all these logistical needs to Coach Han in meticulous detail.

After listening, Coach Han had his assistant write down every point Huang Chong mentioned. He then had Huang Chong himself double-check the list to make sure nothing was missed.

After his meeting with Coach Han, Huang Chong went to the training hall to meet the other members of the cycling program.