The final results of the Bunta City Road Bicycle Race took quite a few people by surprise.
The team sent by the Xinfei Merchant Guild had only five cyclists, yet all five crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else, sweeping first through fifth place.
Although the Xinfei Merchant Guild had announced beforehand that these five cyclists would not take any official places or claim any prize money, everyone felt that first, second, and third place-even fourth and fifth-clearly belonged to the Xinfei Cycling Team. Everyone else had merely picked up the scraps they left behind.
Since the Xinfei Cycling Team's riders had held an overwhelming lead from start to finish, most of the other competitors could only concede defeat, though they also felt rather discouraged.
According to the Xinfei Merchant Guild's announcement, the Xinfei Cycling Team's riders would officially compete next year, have their results counted, and, most importantly, claim the prize money.
But with only a year to prepare, how could they possibly close such an enormous gap and catch up with the riders on the Xinfei Cycling Team?
Fortunately, a few days later, the Bunta Daily published another announcement from the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
In this announcement, the Xinfei Merchant Guild stated that, starting next year, it would join several other merchant guilds in organizing a professional bicycle competition as an official competitive event.
Starting next year, the Xinfei Cycling Team's riders would no longer enter public events like the Bunta City Road Bicycle Race, but would compete exclusively in professional races.
This news caught everyone's attention.
What exactly was a professional competition?
How was it different from the Bunta City Road Bicycle Race?
What made it professional? Did it simply mean that the competitors were stronger?
If that really was the case, it was wonderful news