Chapter 485 - 227: A 100km Attack, Is It Really Possible?

Grégoire of the French Team responded immediately, marking him tightly.

The 800-meter attack on the short climb was over, but neither rider managed to break away.

However, on the very next climb, the Witikon, just as the peloton was about to hit the steepest section at a 20.7% gradient, an exhausted Novak fell back. But then, Rogli? of the Slovenia Team suddenly shot to the front and began to increase the pace for Poga?ar.

Huang Chong knew from his past life that Poga?ar had attacked from this exact spot and that the peloton had never managed to catch him. So, naturally, he didn’t want to just sit in the main group with the Belgium Team and the Dutch Team. He decisively latched on to them the very first chance he got.

At this point, there were still 101 kilometers left in the race.

A hundred-kilometer breakaway. It was something no one, aside from Poga?ar himself, would even dare to imagine.

In his past life, the likes of van der Poel and Evenepoel had said in their post-race interviews that they didn’t respond right away because they believed Poga?ar couldn’t pull off such a long-range solo breakaway. It was, in their minds, a completely suicidal move.

But Huang Chong already knew the outcome. Furthermore, he was riding solo without any support from teammates, so there was no need for him to hang back in the peloton and chase with the other countries. He, along with Quinn Simmons and Baggioli of the Italian Team, responded to Poga?ar the moment he went.

Unsurprisingly, on that short climb, he and Poga?ar managed to drop both Simmons and Baggioli while remaining seated on their saddles the entire time.

"Jesus, Poga?ar and Huang Chong have launched an attack with 101 kilometers still to go. Isn’t that a little too far out?"

The two commentators for European Sports were clearly also struggling to comprehend the Slovenia Team’s choice of tactics.

After all, a hundred-kilometer breakaway was an immense undertaking.

Even though both Huang Chong and Poga?ar had very high FTPs, a 100-kilometer course would still take over two hours to complete.

Moreover, to succeed over such a long breakaway distance, they would have to maintain an average power output of nearly 400 watts to avoid being caught by the peloton. Could they really do that?

However, everyone’s doubts were soon answered.

With 96 kilometers remaining, Tranic of the Slovenia Team intentionally slowed and dropped back from the breakaway group. On the final, unclassified short climb of the fourth lap, he waited for his leader.

However, to Tranic’s great shock and surprise, when he successfully rendezvoused with his leader according to their pre-planned tactic, he discovered a man with black hair and black eyes right on their tail, riding a dragon-emblazoned Olympic Golden Chariot.

He, of course, recognized Huang Chong. Tranic was a Core Deputy Commander for the Visma Team, and his own team leader had even been defeated in this year’s Tour de France, losing the runner-up position in the process.

Needless to say, Huang Chong’s performance this year had left a profound impression on powerhouse teams like his.

But after exchanging a look, Tranic and Poga?ar immediately composed themselves. Without exchanging a single word, they simply stuck to their plan, picked up the pace, and sped off in pursuit of the breakaway group ahead.

They also knew that Huang Chong, who was glued to their wheels, had no intention of taking any turns at the front.

And so, with 91 kilometers to go, Tranic, leading Poga?ar and Huang Chong, successfully caught the lead group at the front of the race.

As for the peloton behind them, the Belgium Team had only taken control of the front after belatedly realizing that Poga?ar and Huang Chong had broken away. Now, that main group was already trailing by nearly a minute.