Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

Chapter 124: Chapter 102: System Revamp, High-Altitude Training Plan (Part 2)

He found that he wasn’t actually satisfied with this outcome.

As an athlete, while a "championship-or-bust" mentality was certainly wrong, it was impossible to succeed without the heart of a champion.

This race, in particular, had made him keenly aware that a considerable gap still existed between him and a World Tour Cyclist.

This silver medal from the Asian Championships was indeed priceless for the country.

But for him, personally, it wasn’t a particularly precious achievement.

At the very least, this medal wasn’t going to get him an offer from a top-tier road cycling team.

At best, it would merely make the managers of top teams aware that there was a new cyclist from China who wasn’t half bad.

So Coach Han hadn’t been wrong about the Tour of Qinghai being important.

He knew that in the upcoming Pro Level multi-day race, he had to perform even better than he had at the Asian Championships.

Only then could he truly capture the attention of the world’s top-tier teams.

...

After a simple team dinner, all the members had to fly back home.

Huang Chong sat on the plane, lost in thought.

Chen Junyi, sitting beside him, noticed his pensive expression. She handed him a U-shaped pillow and a blanket she had brought along and asked curiously,

"What is it? You look like you have something on your mind. Not satisfied with being the runner-up?"

Huang Chong took the pillow, fitted it around his neck, and draped the blanket over his lap before turning to glance at her.

’Even though they knew each other well, they rarely sat this close.’

’He had to admit, Chen Junyi was a natural beauty. Other than skincare products, she hardly wore any makeup, yet she was still so beautiful.’

’Her features, her skin—everything was simply flawless.’

’Observing her up close, Huang Chong even noticed a cool, sharp confidence in her expression.’

Of course, he didn’t dare stare for too long, worried she might find him rude or flippant. He quickly looked away and smiled, saying,

"I’m all right. The two cyclists from Kazakhstan really showed me where I’m lacking, and I want to find somewhere to train and keep improving, but I don’t feel like I have to win every single race.

I’ve seen a lot of athletes who, after winning a championship, become obsessed. They develop a ’championship-or-bust’ mentality and end up losing their way.

As soon as their performance doesn’t meet their expectations, it all becomes counterproductive. I don’t want to end up like that.

I’m already very satisfied that I was able to exceed the national team’s goals for me this time."

"It’s good that you think that way. But what are your training plans for when you get back? Do you have anything in mind?"

Chen Junyi fitted a pillow around her own neck and laid a blanket on her lap. She then took a pair of Bluetooth earbuds from her backpack, planning to listen to music while she worked later.

She thought for a moment before adding,

"I don’t know your specific plan, but you’ve had a personal training regimen in the works since before the New Year, haven’t you?

It’s just that missing out on the championship has made you even more determined to follow through with it, right?"

Huang Chong wasn’t surprised that Chen Junyi had figured out what he was thinking.

She was exceptionally sharp, and her work style was incredibly meticulous. Just because she didn’t bring something up didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of it.

He nodded. There was no need to keep his training plan to himself anymore, so he answered candidly,

"You could say that. I’m planning to do some high-altitude training. I’m going to pick the toughest climbs in the country, even if the roads are terrible.

Basically, wherever it’s hardest, that’s where I’ll go!

I want to continue improving my anaerobic threshold."

For a moment, Chen Junyi was speechless.

High-altitude training was undoubtedly risky, and within China, that meant the plateaus of the Qinghai and Tibet Provinces, the country’s highest geographical region.

The altitude there is extremely high, the road conditions are complex, and the temperature swings between day and night are massive. Even in summer, daytime temperatures with sunlight might be 10-20°C, but at night, they can plummet to minus ten.

But since Huang Chong had made his decision and said it out loud, she knew he wouldn’t change his mind.

He was informing her, not asking for her permission or waiting for her approval.

Although Huang Chong usually followed her training instructions to the letter, it didn’t mean he lacked his own principles and personality, or that he had no ideas of his own and simply waited for her to arrange everything.

Chen Junyi thought it over and decided there was no reason to object.

While the high altitude presented risks, Huang Chong was a professional athlete, after all, with a world-class cardiopulmonary system.

As long as she prepared thoroughly, brought sufficient supplies, had him start from the Shu Region and ride up gradually to acclimate to the altitude, and arranged for a team doctor to accompany him the entire time, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

So she replied directly,

"All right. But I’ll need some time to prepare the supplies and equipment for the high-altitude training.

As it happens, right after you get back, you have the National Road Cycling Championships in Qiandao Lake, as well as the fourth stop of the professional league: the Wenzhou Leqing Station.

By the time you finish those two races, I should have everything more or less ready.

We’ll aim to get to Qinghai early, before the Tour of Qinghai begins. You can follow the official race route, riding it once in advance. That way, you’ll get the training effect and familiarize yourself with the course at the same time."

Chen Junyi opened her laptop, glanced at Huang Chong’s race schedule for the season, and immediately laid out the specific arrangements.

Huang Chong had no objections to this itinerary.