I kept glancing backward through my mirrors, dodging attempts from other riders to block my path or force me into dangerous positions. The race had turned vicious fast, with riders using every dirty trick in the book to gain even the smallest advantage.
Focus on Gabriel, I told myself, weaving around a rider who tried to cut me off. He's the only one who matters.
I'd caught a glimpse of that anonymous rider stalling at the starting line, their bike cutting out embarrassingly while the crowd laughed. For a split second, I'd almost felt bad for them, but I couldn't afford distractions. Gabriel was already pulling ahead, and every second I spent thinking about anything else was a second I wasn't gaining ground.
My comm system crackled to life, Tony's voice cutting through the engine noise
