Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

After eating the Rapid Recovery Energy Bar, the energy Huang Chong had expended was instantly restored, and his fatigue was completely wiped away.

Therefore, he could once again maintain a high-intensity pace in Zone 4, the lactate threshold between aerobic and anaerobic.

As long as he didn’t enter a sprint or stand up for a high-intensity out-of-the-saddle effort, he wouldn’t enter Zone 5 anaerobic, which would cause lactate to build up rapidly in his body and plunge him into fatigue.

But in truth, after his heart had been optimized by the system multiple times, his maximum heart rate could no longer be calculated using the rough formula of (220 - age).

As for the exact number, even he didn’t know.

However, during his daily training over the past few days, in addition to long aerobic rides, he had also done periodic, short-distance anaerobic sprint training.

From the data displayed on the system’s bike computer, he had roughly estimated that his current maximum heart rate was at least 210.

This meant that for him to enter the Zone 5 anaerobic range now, his heart rate would have to reach 190+.

This was the greatest enhancement the system had given him.

’Of course, besides my heart, my lungs must have also been massively improved. My VO2 max must be at a world-class level now.’

According to news in the cycling world—though he couldn’t verify if it was true—the legendary Vingegaard of the Jumbo Team was said to have a VO2 max as high as 97, the second-highest ever recorded.

Using that as a benchmark, even if he, after the system’s optimization, wasn’t quite at Vingegaard’s level, he surely couldn’t be far off. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Of course, a high VO2 max alone doesn’t directly equate to a cyclist having strong endurance.

It has to be combined with the lactate threshold to comprehensively measure whether a cyclist truly possesses superior endurance and a high-burst riding level.

The one who can recover faster after extreme anaerobic cycling and can still push through the fatigue even when lactate levels are exceeded—that is the one who is truly strong.

This is why Pogačar is so versatile.

He can climb and sprint, a truly all-around GC contender with no weaknesses, precisely because his body’s ability to recover after anaerobic efforts is just that incredible.

One must remember that the three Grand Tours are high-intensity races lasting three weeks, or 21 days. To win, a cyclist’s recovery ability is the most fundamental cornerstone for victory.

"Huang Chong, have you ever considered becoming a Professional Cyclist?"

After reaching the 100km mark, Huang Chong and Zhang Yi didn’t stop riding immediately. Instead, they slowed down, keeping their heart rates in Zone 1 for a warm-down, and continued to ride at a slow pace.

This helped relax their muscles and, in the process, flush excess lactate from their bodies.

Looking only at the average speed for the last 50km, the data on Zhang Yi’s bike computer showed a speed as high as 46 km/h.

This had already reached the basic entry-level standard for a domestic Road Cyclist on a flat stage.

’With Huang Chong’s current ability, it’s hard to say if he could get into the provincial team, but joining a city-level team would definitely be no problem.’

Huang Chong hadn’t expected Zhang Yi to proactively ask him if he wanted to be a Professional Cyclist.

However, since he was asking, Huang Chong realized that the man had already acknowledged his abilities.

’If I wasn’t good enough, why would he even ask?’

So he didn’t hold back. This was the perfect opportunity to be open about it and, taking advantage of the other’s status as a retired provincial team cyclist, learn more about the channels for joining an official team.

He smiled and replied:

"Of course I want to be a Professional Cyclist, Captain. I just don’t know if my current level is good enough to meet the selection criteria."

"And I don’t know how to join a team, either—"

"I’ve only heard that when Intercontinental Teams scout for people, they usually send scouts to races to discover talent. They’re the ones who extend the olive branch and recruit cyclists who meet their technical standards, rather than cyclists applying to the team with their training data."

"Intercontinental Teams don’t rule out the method you described for recruiting."

Zhang Yi nodded and added:

"But in reality, the chances of recruiting a cyclist that way are very, very small."

"Generally speaking, Intercontinental Teams still prefer to select outstanding talent from provincial and city teams. That’s much more reliable than searching for some unknown prodigy among the amateurs!"

"Moreover, while our country has quite a few Intercontinental Teams, their core strength still relies on foreign riders. So, if you want to become a Professional Cyclist, it’s best to start with a provincial or city team!"

"As long as your skills reach the selection standards for an Intercontinental Team in the future, you won’t have to worry about not being recruited."

"Of course, there’s another benefit to joining a provincial or city team and gaining official cyclist status: if your level ranks among the best in the country—say, top five—you’ll have a chance to be drafted into the National Team."

Huang Chong had some understanding of the benefits of becoming a member of the National Road Cycling Team from his previous life.

First, with that status, you could participate in many major road cycling competitions, such as the World Championships, the Olympics, the Asian Championships, and the Asian Games.

Beyond that, the National Team had a very awesome privilege: at the only World Tour race held in the country each year, the Tour of Guangxi, the National Team would receive a special wildcard invitation from the UCI to compete alongside the 18 World Tour Teams.

You could say that even without leaving the country or setting foot on European soil, domestic cyclists had a chance to showcase their abilities and skills right in front of the managers of World Tour Teams.

This was, without a doubt, fatally attractive to Huang Chong.

It was even directly related to whether he could join one of the 18 World Tour Teams directly.

Otherwise, he would have to take the long way around: first joining a second-tier ProTeam in Europe, and then getting promoted from a ProTeam to a World Tour Team.

For a new athlete, just sending in a résumé was never a good way to apply.

Only the most direct and forceful proof—on-the-spot results, like winning a stage—was the best way to prove one’s true strength.

"I’m willing to start with a provincial or city team, Captain Zhang, that’s not a problem. But how do I join one? Do they hold open tryouts, or do you need to come from a formal training background?"

"Different places have different selection criteria. In some provinces, the provincial team holds open selections for the general public and picks the best candidates."

"But our province’s recruitment system is relatively strict and standardized. To get into the provincial team, you have to be selected from the best of the city-level teams."

"The other path is being developed from a young age. For example, those who achieve good results in youth championships can transfer directly to the provincial team once their age and ability reach the adult level."

Huang Chong’s head spun listening to this; he was completely clueless about this kind of systematic promotion path and had never looked into it before.

But without a doubt, the youth path was completely unsuitable for him. That was for high school kids.

He had already graduated from college. He could be considered an "aging" cyclist, long past the point of being called a young rider.

So after hearing Zhang Yi’s explanation, he knew there was only one path for him—join a city-level team first. He asked:

"Captain, just tell me straight. How does an amateur like me get into a city-level team?"

Hearing him ask this, Zhang Yi stared at him for a moment before speaking slowly:

"You register with the relevant department to apply for the selection process. After getting qualified, the department will conduct tests on your professional skills, physical fitness, cardiopulmonary function, and so on. As long as you pass the assessment and perform excellently in the selection, you can be accepted by a city-level team!"

After a pause, Zhang Yi added:

"But before all that, my personal advice is that you should first go to a hospital for a cardiopulmonary exercise test. I can take a look at it for you first and see if you have the potential to be a Professional Cyclist!"

After hearing this, Huang Chong finished his training, returned to Hangcheng, and immediately went to a hospital to get his cardiopulmonary exercise test done. He then sent the results to Zhang Yi, who had already returned home.

When Zhang Yi saw the various cardiopulmonary values indicated on the test report, his eyes widened, and he couldn’t contain the excitement surging within him.

Even the hand holding his phone began to tremble uncontrollably, as if he had Parkinson’s.