Chapter 121
He almost pulled it oft. Almost
4.32%
As we entered the turn three–wide, there simply wasn’t enough room for all of to maintain our lines. The third rider, committed to his inside position,
couldn’t slow down enough to make the turn cleanly. His hike slid wide, clipping he rear wheel of my main rival.
I watched in my peripheral vision as both bikes wobbled dangerously, their rider fighting to maintain control. The third rider went down hard, his bike
sliding across the asphalt in a shower of sparks while he rolled to safety. My rivalomanaged to stay upright, but the contact had cost him momentum and
position
Suddenly, it was just me and one other rider heading toward the final turn.
She was good better than anyone I’d faced so far. Her bike was a work of art, pnted in deep blue with silver accents that caught the high he moved.
More importantly, she rode like someone who’d been doing this for years, with confidence and smoothness that spoke of countles
As we approached the last turn before the finish line, she made her move. She’d been holding something back, saving a burst of sp moment. I watched her pull ahead by half a bike length, her superior experience showing as she took the optimal racing line through th
For a moment, I felt doubt creep in. This was my first race, and here I was going head–to–head with someone who clearly belonged at this level. Maybe
Derek had been right to tell me to focus on just finishing rather than trying to win.
But then I remembered why I was here. I was racing to prove something not just to Derek or to the other riders, but to myself. I was here because I refused
to be underestimated anymore, refused to settle for second place in my own life.
I couldn’t lose. Not on my first race. Not when I needed to prove myself.
I shifted Claire into her highest gear and twisted the throttle as far as it would go. The bike responded like a living thing, surging forward with power I hadn’t known she possessed. The engine note changed to a higher, more aggressive pitch as we entered territory I’d never explored before.
The finish line was rushing toward us, both bikes side by side, neither giving an inch. I could see the checkered flag waiting, could hear the crowd on their feet, could feel every cell in my body focused on this single moment.
In the end, it came down to inches. As we crossed the line, Claire’s front wheel was just barely ahead of my rival’s. The electronic timing system would probably show a margin of victory measured in hundredths of a second, but it was enough.
I had won.
The crowd erupted in a way I’d never experienced before. The sound washed over me, thousands of people expressing their excitement and appreciation for the race they’d just witnessed. I pulled off my helmet and waved, smiling broadly even though I knew my face was mostly hidden behind the black mask I
wore.
Derek was already pushing through the crowd toward me, his face split by the biggest grin I’d ever seen. The moment he reached me, he swept me up in a hug that lifted my feet off the ground.
I didn’t flinch or pull away like I might have weeks ago. Physical contact was getting easier for me, especially when it came from people who had earned my
trust.
“How was 1?‘ I asked as soon as he set me down, still breathless from the race and the adrenaline.
‘You were amazing. Absolutely amazing. That move through the S–curves? I’ve never seen anything like it from a rookie. His eyes were shining with pride
and excitement. “You rode like you’ve been doing this for years.”
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20.33 Thu, Jang 20
Chapter 121
Thank you, I said, unable to stop giggling from the pure joy of victory.
I think we’ve got ourselves a female Blacky,” came a mature voice from behind
Blacky was Tristan’s racing name.
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