China Track Cycling wins the championship at the Tokyo Olympics-doing everything possible to improve one thousandth of a second_General Administration of Sports

31 seconds 895, this is the Chinese track cycling Olympic champion Zhong Angel and Bao Shanju’s victory in the Tokyo Olympics. The runner-up German team scored 31 seconds 980. The gap between the gold and silver medals is only 0.085 seconds. Although it is a weak advantage, the Chinese team won beautifully.
“To improve one thousandth of a second, do everything possible”, this slogan has been hanging in the bicycle training center in Laoshan, Beijing. The competition between short-distance track bicycles in the world is just a matter of time. One thousandth of a second is likely to determine the final victory. For this one thousandth of a second, the Chinese cycling team has paid a lot.

Choose the right breakthrough, choose good people

In September 2020, the bicycle project preparation work conference was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi. The theme of the conference was: unify thinking, strengthen confidence, work together, and make gold for the Olympics. The overall strategy for preparing for the war was determined at the meeting: give full play to the advantages of the nationwide system, work together to prepare for the war, highlight the key points, take into account the general, pay close attention to training, strengthen physical fitness, strict management, unite and resolutely oppose doping, and strive to achieve key breakthroughs in the Tokyo Olympics , Create another success. Cui Dalin, chairman of the China Cycling Association, pointed out at the meeting that preparing for the war is a prominent task and top priority, but it faces challenges such as “time constraints, heavy tasks, high requirements, and high difficulties”. Cui Dalin believes that if we want to make a breakthrough, we must first choose the right breakthrough point. Throughout the performance of Chinese bicycles since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the team’s gold spot is still in the women’s short-distance team racing event. As a result, a strategy of “focusing on the key points and taking into account the general” was determined.
In terms of personnel, excellent short-distance athletes from Shanghai, Jilin, Henan, Shandong, Zhejiang, etc. were selected to form a national short-distance training team. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, it was Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi who won gold medals for China. Angel Zhong remained in the team, but suffered a serious knee injury. The doctor once diagnosed that she could not perform strong strength training. Gong Jinjie has retired and has just given birth to his second son. He had no training for four years.
After the formation of the team, Angel Zhong strengthened his conviction, training while healed, and actively recovered his state; Gong Jinjie returned to the team to recover. Although his state recovered at an amazing speed, he finally missed the Olympics because he did not have international points. Cultivating and digging newcomers has become a top priority. Subsequently, Bao Shanju, Guo Yufang and other newcomers came to the fore and entered the main lineup of preparations. The two are close in level, both in their early 20s. They were the best seedlings in the country at the time. Among them, Bao Shanju was even more prominent. She won the 250m individual time trial, 500m individual time trial and team racing in the 2020 National Track Championship. It won three gold medals and broke two national records four times.
In terms of coaches, the two French foreign coaches Moreron and Bennoit, who previously coached the Chinese cycling team, have been hired by other teams. China can only form a team of coaches for the all-China class based on the current situation, and finally appointed the leader Li Chunchang. Head coach Liang Xiaozhong and Gao Yahui.
The breakthrough project was selected and the team was formed. The Chinese cyclists played a game of chess across the country, and made a single mind, firming the goal of “all for the gold medal”.
Gong Jinjie, who missed the Olympic Games, was not discouraged, and still played a “leader” role in the team. After Bao Shanju was determined to be the first lap player, Gong Jinjie gave his experience to each other, prompting Bao Shanju to increase her confidence and surpass her predecessors. In the end, at the Tokyo Olympics, Bao Shanju rode 18.247 seconds, breaking the world‘s best time of 18.282 seconds, the first lap created by Gong Jinjie. In terms of cooperation experience, Gong Jinjie passed on his previous cooperation experience with Zhong Tianzhi to the teenager, so that Bao Shanju’s cooperation with Zhong Tianji reduced the running-in time. “Before setting off, both of them have practiced very well, but the team project must have a higher degree of cooperation and unity.” Gong Jinjie asked the two to talk to each other to further strengthen the cohesion of the two.
In the end, what appeared on the field was the perfect cooperation between Bao Shanju and Zhong Angel. The two complemented each other and were indispensable. When Bao Shanju created a good result in the world‘s first lap, Zhong Tianzhi also improved his second lap again, from 13 seconds 65 in the previous edition to 13 seconds 557 in this edition. The two worked together to create a new world record of 31.804 seconds.
After winning the championship, Angel Zhong praised Bao Shanju for his outstanding performance and laid the victory for himself in the first lap. And Bao Shanju kept grateful to “Sister Angel”, “When I don’t know what I’m doing, I keep looking at Sister Angel, why am I doing it.” In fact, this is true. Affected by the epidemic, Bao Shanju’s growth is impossible. As usual, I have not experienced the Asian Games or the World Championships. The first world competition was the Olympic Games. The experience was zero and it was very difficult.
“It’s the first time I embark on the Olympic journey, and I feel relieved to have an excellent old athlete like Angel Sister lead me. The perfect cooperation and mutual trust of the two people are very important.” Bao Shanju said.
There is no victory alone, only success by unity. Competitive sports is like this. Only by digging out everyone’s limits and forming a joint force can it be transformed into the courage and determination to overcome difficulties and be invincible.

Do everything possible for every bit of progress

In order to improve the strength, faster and faster, the Chinese cycling team has exhausted all methods and means to study the rules of the project.
Looking at the performance of the Tokyo Olympic Games first, the women’s team sprint has played a total of three shots. The first shot is the qualifying round, the second shot is the “first round”, and the third shot is the deciding round. Three appearances, every round is not to be missed. In each round, Bao Shanju and Zhong Tian must work out their strength and abilities.
The same is true for the final presentation on the field. In the first shot, the Chinese team scored 135 seconds in 32 seconds, Germany ranked first with a score of 32 seconds 102, 0.033 seconds faster than China; in the second shot, the Chinese team broke the world record in 31 seconds 804, and the German team scored 31 seconds. Second 905; the third shot, China 31 seconds 895, the German team 31 seconds 980, the Chinese girl won.
Do everything possible to take the lead! This guiding ideology runs through the training and preparations of Chinese bicycles. Strengthen physical fitness, technological assistance, innovative training, and targeted improvement. The progress of a few millimetres has poured into the team’s exhaustion of all possible results.
Through wind tunnel tests, the frame, wheels, handlebars, jerseys, helmets, and the riding posture of each rider were measured, and the possibility of reducing resistance was found from six aspects, and the most suitable one was finally selected. Vehicles and equipment. Taking helmets as an example, many people still remember the “Mulan” and “Mu Guiying” helmets used by Zhong Angel and Gong Jinjie when they won the championship. They were the round helmets that athletes liked to use in the past, but after wind tunnel tests, the long-tail helmets showed resistance. The youngest, so we saw the long-tailed phoenix helmets of Zhong Angel and Bao Shanju in Tokyo, which heralded “Phoenix Nirvana” and hoped to bring good luck to the two.
Each training session will be recorded in the whole course, and the specific data from the starting speed to the high-speed endurance of each athlete can be calculated by using the segmented performance data. The deficiency can be found at any time, whether it is insufficient starting speed, slow back course, or which one in the middle The link is slow, which is convenient for targeted improvement in the later stage.
The scientific research team monitors the physiological and biochemical indicators for athletes, and scientifically grasps the amount and intensity of each training session. The training must be effective, and it must not cause the body to become too fatigued and cause injuries.
Pay close attention to physical fitness. Soon after the team was formed, they came to the National Fitness Training Camp base in Shunyi, Beijing, where they specialized in physical fitness training. Test each team member and select the test data of the best cyclists in the world to make a pie-shaped comparison chart, so that everyone can see the shortcomings and improve with a definite target.
In the training, special physical fitness is strengthened. According to the project characteristics of short-distance explosive power, the special strength training is strengthened, and the training intensity is highlighted. Taking the power bicycle as an example, the lactic acid value of male athletes can reach 27, and women can reach 23. Through intensity stimulation, Improve the high-speed endurance of athletes.
Men’s companionship training, multiple companionship training, and motorcycle traction training are all training content for athletes to improve their speed. “The purpose of motorcycle traction training is to increase the maximum speed and maximum explosive power, and at the same time improve nerve excitement. Riding on your own, absolute speed and absolute explosiveness cannot meet the requirements.” Instructor Hu Ke said, traction by motorcycle , The absolute speed for athletes has been further improved, and Zhong Tianshi’s starting speed has also been exercised.
A series of powerful measures have enabled athletes to continuously improve their physical fitness. Even Zhong Angel, with a severe knee injury, will increase the squat strength to 135 kg on the basis of rehabilitation. Before she was injured, her maximum strength was 100 kilograms. Bao Shanju’s squat strength has also increased from 125 kg to 155 kg.
After the first shot qualifying for the Olympics, Bao Shanju cried. The result of 18.5 seconds was not her normal level. “It’s a bit of a rush, the starting device is stuck and not released, I don’t know how to kick out the first 20 meters.”
“Is the waist okay?” The coach said with concern and relieved Bao Shanju’s pressure, she shook her head. “That’s good! You see that you twisted like this 20 meters before you set off, and you rode out 18 seconds 5. It will definitely be fine for the next round.”
At this time, Angel Zhong found the coach, “I have reached the limit of this frequency. If the next shot is increased, a larger transmission ratio must be changed.” This is a risky approach. Changing a larger transmission ratio must be done on the crankshaft of the vehicle. One more tooth on the top, the speed may increase, but it requires absolute strength and physical support, and the requirements for starting ability will be higher.
The coaching staff agreed, and at the same time comforted the two and said, “You may be a little tighter in the first game, and the second game will be better, no problem.”
Bao Shanju put aside his psychological burden and created the world‘s best result in the first lap. Zhong Tian also succeeded in changing the gear ratio, and the second lap increased by 0.1 second. The courage to increase the transmission ratio at a critical moment stems from the improvement of Zhong Tianshi’s physical fitness, and it is also her confidence to fight for the gold medal.
“If the second shot is still inferior to the German team, Bao Shanju will also change to a larger gear ratio.” The coaching staff said, but Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi played well, broke the world record, and were morale strong, so they did not make any changes for them.
In the last 9 months of preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, the team conducted scientific training arrangements, and each training sector grasped the key problems to be solved. Since there is no major competition stimulus due to the epidemic, two competitions and two intra-team tests were arranged in China. The two-stop national championship in Changxing in April this year completely simulated the operation process of the Tokyo Olympics and realized the pace of preparation for the competition to serve the national team. The Olympic lineup is basically determined.
Before the Olympics, the team conducted two more test races at the Laoshan Velodrome. The original plan was to run three rounds like the Olympics, but seeing that the first two rounds had good results, Cui Dalin immediately decided to close. “Okay! Don’t hurt it. It’s already there!” he said.
“Domestic training, unanimously external”, whether it is a competition or a test, is all for the eventual glory of the Olympics.

Ideological and style construction is a powerful driving force and guarantee for winning the championship

“In preparing for the Olympic Games for more than a thousand days and nights, every tear we shed, every sweat, and every pain we experienced was to build a stronger ourselves, to win more for the team and the motherland. The odds of winning by points. At this moment of going out, my heart is not only excited, but still excited. In the Tokyo arena, I will do my best to win glory for the country!” Bao Shanju said. At the swearing ceremony before leaving for Tokyo, the coaches and athletes were full of enthusiasm and strengthened their ideals and beliefs to fight for the country and win glory for the country.
Zhong Angel, who has been sticking to it for five years, bears more and is even more moving. “The training grounds are intensively trained day after day, the body is overdrawn after each training session, and every training content is exhausted until lying down. Falling to the ground and unable to move, I believe that every teammate has experienced physical limits. In the most difficult times, a small thought can make you persevere.”
Understanding why you fight and learning to be strict with yourself are compulsory courses for athletes on the road to gold. Facing the arduous task of preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, the party branch of the China Cycling Team firmly implemented the policy of promoting preparations through party building. Regardless of where the team is and what stage the training reaches, it insists on regularly conducting ideological and political learning in a flexible manner every week. And patriotism education, organize patriotic inspirational education series of practical classes, “Motherland in my heart” party building activity month, to achieve “Where to go, where to learn”, using the most refined theory, the most shocking facts, the broadest vision To enrich the athlete’s heart.
The team members deeply realized that only by relying on firm belief, bravely breaking the halo of honor, and resolutely challenging the previous peak and winning, can they have the chance to win the victory in the upcoming harsh competition and win the honor for the motherland again. . The sonorous and powerful words transformed into courage and courage on the court. The ideal and belief of the supremacy of the motherland has achieved courage and victory on the field!
Step off the podium and start from scratch. Having won the women’s team racing gold medal in two consecutive Olympic Games, China Cycling has already proven itself, but as the athletes said after the race, Xiongguan Mandao is really like iron, and now it’s stepping forward! While winning gold, China Bicycle also saw the rapid development of strong players in Europe and the United States, and saw our weakness in personal projects. In the future, we must still base ourselves on ourselves, increase thickness and heritage, and strive for new brilliance. (Reproduced from the 01 edition of China Sports Daily on August 24)