Not long after Jimmy finished speaking, as the main group arrived just 6km from the finish, the white-clad UAE Team spotted the steep climb looming just up the road. They quickly lined up, forming a train that instantly pushed to the very front of the pack.
Paced by the UAE Deputy Commanders, Denz, who had been riding ahead of the main group, was instantly swallowed up.
Huang Chong saw UAE take control at this point and knew they were planning to snatch the stage victory on the toughest 3km of the climb. But he wasn't about to let them have it that easily.
So, he decisively upped his power, moved up right alongside the UAE Team, and surged to the very front of the peloton.
As he made his move, the leaders of the other teams—obviously no fools themselves—immediately pushed their way to the front. Under UAE's pace control, they all charged onto the 3km-long, steep concrete climb together.
The sheer gradient immediately cranked the race's difficulty to the maximum.
