Free Web NovelChapter 61: Chapter 61: I Will Do My Best at the Race and Try to Bring Home Two Medals
’System, pull up my personal panel. I want to see my detailed stats!’
Huang Chong thought to himself after optimizing all his physical attributes.
A data panel immediately appeared before his eyes, one that had undergone a complete transformation compared to when he first got the system:
[Host: Huang Chong]
[Weight: 65 kg]
[FTP: 328W]
[Cadence: 93]
[Sprinting Burst: 75]
[Car Control Techniques: 76]
[Cornering Ability: 71]
[Terrain Prediction: 41]
[Mental Fortitude: 92] ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
[Basic Optimization Value: 0]
[Overall Assessment: Your Power-to-Weight Ratio has exceeded 5.0, reaching the level of a junior Professional Cyclist. Please keep up the good work.]
...
Huang Chong went through all his stats line by line. The result was more or less what he had expected.
Having an individual ability score break 70 points was the entry standard for the junior Professional Level.
His Power-to-Weight Ratio, in particular, had successfully reached the professional entry standard Zhang Yi had mentioned: 5.0+.
However, if someone were to ask him which of his weaknesses he felt had improved the most since joining the provincial team, he would undoubtedly choose Sprinting Burst.
Although his core power had also increased by several dozen points, compared to his explosive power—which had leaped from around 50 to 75 after his entire musculature was perfected—the improvement in the latter was a true metamorphosis.
Most importantly, over the past three months, Chen Junyi had also arranged for him to practice short-distance, anaerobic burst sprints on the velodrome daily—55-second, 15-second, and even one-minute intervals.
She even brought in a provincial team coach who specialized in this area to help him meticulously refine his technical details, aerodynamic posture, and more.
It was safe to say that if he were to sprint with all his might now, given his current muscle density, his peak power output in the first ten-plus seconds of standing up and rocking the bike would definitely soar past a kilowatt.
This was far beyond the 600-700W peak power he could only manage when he weighed 60 kg.
And the optimization of this ability meant he now had the strength to participate in multi-day races under the UCI.
For example, in China, after the full lifting of pandemic restrictions, UCI Professional Level (2.Pro) races like the Tour of Hainan Island and the Tour of Tai Lake would resume next year.
If his power increased fast enough, he could even make it to the Tour of Guangxi in October of next year—the only top-tier World Tour (2.UWT) race in the country and one of only two in Asia, which was also set to resume.
Of course, participating in the Tour of Guangxi came with strict eligibility requirements.
Since China has no Pro Level professional teams, and Intercontinental Teams are not eligible to participate in the World Tour, if he wanted to race in the Tour of Guangxi, he would either have to join a World Tour Team in advance or be drafted into the National Team.
As the host nation of the race, UCI regulations stipulate that members of that country’s National Team can be specially invited to participate in a World Tour event.
’Looks like my Terrain Prediction is still garbage, completely amateur level!’
After reviewing all his stats, Huang Chong couldn’t help but sigh. He discovered that even after three months of intense, isolated training, this particular stat hadn’t changed at all.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to improve this weakness. Especially now that it was the only stat lagging so far behind—it was an eyesore. He wished the system would hurry up and issue or detect a related mission so he could seize the opportunity to optimize this shortcoming as well.
But as it happened, none of the missions detected by the system had anything to do with it.
’I wonder what kind of environment or riding conditions are needed to trigger a detection mission from the system for this weakness?’
Huang Chong shook his head with a wry smile.
He was completely baffled, unable to make heads or tails of it.
During these three months of high-intensity training, his cycling activities alone included indoor trainers, power trainers, roller trainers, track cycling, outdoor individual time trials (ITT), road mass start rides, and mountain biking.
He had practiced almost every discipline related to cycling.
Yet he still couldn’t trigger a mission related to Terrain Prediction. It was just absurd.
"Huang Chong, your latest physical examination report is out.
Now, fess up. How did your muscle density increase so quickly?
It’s simply incredible. It practically defies the laws of human biology!"
Chen Junyi had an undergraduate degree in advanced sports science. While she hadn’t yet pursued a master’s, her plan was to first gain practical work experience in China before returning to Birmingham for further studies. She believed this would maximize her understanding of her discipline. In any case, her current level of expertise was already thoroughly professional.
She was well-versed in sports nutrition and human sports data analysis. These two fields were directly related to an athlete’s true performance and were the most direct, targeted disciplines for helping an athlete improve.
For instance, the rapid improvement in Huang Chong’s strength under her specially tailored nutrition and daily training regimen was the perfect example.
However, she was unaware that his muscular improvements were actually due to the system.
Huang Chong couldn’t explain the reason for his rapid increase in muscle density. In fact, he didn’t even know what muscle density was at first.
It would have been strange for an amateur-turned-professional cyclist like him, who didn’t come from a sports background, to understand such technical jargon.
But by spending his days with someone as extremely professional, knowledgeable, and good-natured as Chen Junyi, he had naturally been influenced and had improved.
For example, after his first muscle scan using various instruments, he had looked up information related to muscle density.
He was hardly an expert, but he could at least hold a basic conversation about it. He gave a vague reply:
"I don’t know. Maybe it has to do with my extra training?
You know my body fat percentage is frighteningly low right now.
The protein you have me consume every day gets converted into muscle very quickly after high-intensity training. Could that be the reason?"
Of course, Huang Chong’s explanation didn’t hold water. Muscle growth has its own cycle.
To achieve the effects of the system’s enhancement potion in just three months was impossible, even if he were to pump iron in the gym 24/7.
Besides, the human body has its physical limits; overtraining leads to injury. He wasn’t ignorant of this principle.
But the new data on his muscle density didn’t lie. He had reached an ultimate state, almost flawless.
Therefore, Chen Junyi could only label this phenomenon an "unconventional training effect."
"Forget it. Regardless of how you reached this level, I must remind you from now on that training must follow scientific principles and natural laws. Excessive extra training is not advisable.
Huang Chong, I know you’re a very ambitious athlete, and I really, really appreciate your professional attitude.
In fact, you’re the most self-disciplined Road Cyclist I’ve ever seen since I started working.
But from now on, your training must follow the plan I’ve set out for you, step by step. You absolutely cannot rush for quick results or secretly do extra training behind my back, okay?
Improving your athletic performance is a gradual process. You understand that too much is as bad as not enough, right?"
Chen Junyi never spoke in a harsh tone; she always persuaded people with virtue and reason.
She wasn’t like the coaches of other programs at the base, who would immediately start chewing out their subordinates—spittle flying—if they failed to complete a task or even over-completed it.
Huang Chong often felt he must have gotten incredibly lucky. Not only did he have a dedicated one-on-one coach, but she was also so intelligent and gentle, sometimes coaxing him as if he were a child.
Of course, his own attitude was also very good, which was directly related to his easygoing personality.
Aside from the things about the system that he had to hide, he was always polite and obedient to Chen Junyi during training and in their daily interactions—a perfect, well-behaved student who would score full marks.
In short, their relationship at the base was very harmonious, so much so that it even sparked gossip among other athletes, who claimed they weren’t training but were clearly dating within the system.
Of course, this was just gossipmongers clutching at straws and spreading rumors.
There was absolutely no truth to it.
At least for now, before he had achieved any results, Huang Chong had no interest whatsoever in romance.
He nodded and humbly accepted Chen Junyi’s correction. In any case, his body had already been optimized to its peak state, so he wouldn’t need to pump a ton of iron in the gym anymore. He replied sincerely:
"I was wrong, Assistant Chen.
I admit, I was in a hurry to improve my strength, wanting to compete and get results sooner, so I did some extra training in secret.
But from now on, I will definitely correct my mistake. I’ll follow your plan one hundred percent and won’t do any more excessive training that could injure me!"
Hearing his personal promise, Chen Junyi nodded in satisfaction. A smile finally bloomed on her face, revealing her two signature dimples. She handed him another form and continued:
"Seeing as you’ve taken the initiative to admit your mistake and correct it, I’ll reward you with an opportunity to officially participate in a road cycling race.
From this Saturday to next Monday are the dates for the road cycling events at our province’s 17th Provincial Games. I’ve already applied for your entry.
However, since you aren’t on a city-level team, you can only compete as an individual. Therefore, you will participate in the Men’s Group A 30km Individual Time Trial and the 80km Road Mass Start Race, but you can’t participate in the team time trial!"
Huang Chong was overjoyed to hear this news.
Three long months of hard training without being able to participate in a single race, and he couldn’t even leave the base freely except for training—
The frustration was immense!
He had long been itching to take his warhorse of a bike out onto the race course and dominate the field.
He was so excited that he immediately grasped Chen Junyi’s fair, slender hands and thanked her sincerely:
"Thank you, Assistant Chen! Not being able to do the team time trial is no big deal.
As long as I can participate in the individual time trial and the mass start race, I’m more than satisfied.
Don’t worry, I will definitely perform well on the course. I’ll strive to bring back two medals to repay you for the meticulous care and training you’ve given me all this time!"
