Chapter 416 202: Rise From Where You Fell, a Stunning Time Trial Performance

In the battle for the general classification of a stage race, a weak time trial ability was an almost incalculable weakness.

They had both already finished, but their average speeds were only 53.921 km/h and 53.349 km/h, respectively.

Based on Stefan King's current total time and average speed, they had already lost nearly 40 and 50 seconds, respectively—

Losing so much time in a time trial... how difficult would it be to try and claw that time back from other teams' main contenders in the climbs?

Huang Chong, for his part, was just glad his own time trial ability had no obvious weaknesses.

After Stefan King had finished, only a dozen or so riders were left to start.

Unexpectedly, when the Trek Team's young rider from the Czech Republic, Mathias Vacek—born in 2002—took his turn, he became the first finisher to break 57 km/h, knocking Stefan King from the top of the live leaderboard.

'With a finishing time like that,' Huang Chong thought, 'I don't even need to see the rest. This kid definitely has a shot at a top-three finish for the stage.'

And as it turned out, of the riders who followed, no one could post a faster time—with the sole exception of McNulty, who started third-to-last and beat Vacek by two seconds.

McNulty's average speed at the finish was an impressive 57.197 km/h, with a total time of 12:35.28.

Van Aert, who started second-to-last, put in a spectacular performance today, also clocking 56.986 km/h—incredibly close to 57.

But for now, his time was only good enough for third place.

"Huang, just take it easy.

So far, none of the riders at the top of the leaderboard for this first time trial stage of the Vuelta a España are true GC contenders.

Your goal isn't to beat the UAE Team's McNulty; it's to benchmark yourself against their Core Commander: Almeida.

He's currently 19 seconds behind his teammate, with an average finishing speed of around 55 km/h.

As long as you don't lose too much time to Almeida, it's mission accomplished.

As for last year's Vuelta a España champion, Kuss, his performance in this stage has been pretty mediocre, with an average speed of just 53.420 km/h.

He's already a full 53 seconds behind McNulty."

After Huang Chong started his run, Aldag, who was in the team car following him, relayed the other riders' times over the radio and laid out his objective for the S1 Stage.

But upon hearing this advice, Huang Chong had no intention of taking it.

After the Olympics, his FTP Power had increased again. It was now at 470 watts, giving him a Power-to-Weight Ratio as high as 7.23.

'With this kind of power, and being in peak condition for a short 12 km individual time trial... I can use high-intensity anaerobic power for almost the whole thing.' He had no intention of losing to McNulty for a second time.

He had already lost to the man once at the UAE Tour earlier in the year, and he was dead set on getting his revenge.

Besides, a stage win at the Vuelta a España came with an 11,000 euro prize, just like at the Tour de France.

The UCI points were a little lower, though—180 for the winner.

But that was still more than enough motivation for Huang Chong to go all out.

So when he blasted through the stage's only intermediate time check at the 7 km mark, he had already beaten the fastest split, set by Van Aert, by a full seven seconds.

His average speed was a staggering 59+ km/h.

This sight undoubtedly made the jaws of commentators and cycling fans all over the world hit the floor!!

"Oh my god!!

Look at Huang Chong's average speed! What kind of time trial monster is he?!

59 km/h?

A speed like this... he's practically rivaling Filippo Ganna in his prime!!!"

Steve, from European Sports, felt like he was dreaming as he watched Huang Chong's speed.

"Absolutely!!!

To be able to average nearly 60 km/h over 12 km... that puts him right up there with Ganna and Remco on the flats!!

It's just incredible!!

He's clearly gotten even better since the Tour de France!!

Let's see if he can hold this average speed all the way to the finish!!"

Jimmy was equally, and speechlessly, excited.

But by the time Huang Chong finished the stage, with a total time of just over 12 minutes and 20 seconds, he had beaten McNulty's time by another 15 seconds, and his final average speed was locked in at 59.113 km/h.

This left everyone around the world watching the race completely stunned.

That included Evenepoel, watching while on vacation, and the top man in road cycling, Pogačar.

To them, Huang Chong's rate of improvement was frankly terrifying!

And with his crushing victory in the S1 Stage of the Vuelta a España, Huang Chong achieved the supreme honor of simultaneously holding all four of a Grand Tour's leader's jerseys!