Dawn unfurled over Madrid, Spain, gilding the empty streets with a gentle glow. Six racing teams were waking up from their campsite and getting back to their vehicles for the next leg of the race. The contestants readied their rides: Jacqueline and Kate in The Apple Picker, apples stacked and juice turbo at the ready; Alexis and Kayla in Girl Power, their ride shimmering pink; Chris and Joseph in The Catmobile, engines rumbling like a feline; Jasprit and Luke in The Football Plane, soccer balls rolling in the back seat; Jacob and Skylar in Heatwave, flames painted in wild arcs; Jo and Zak in Target Practice, checking their suction arrows.
Before the new stage could begin, Lacey raised her megaphone and called for everyone's attention. "As you all know, we lost four daring teams during the last leg of the race," she announced with a solemn nod. Stephanie chimed in, her tone brightening, "But don't worry, racers! To keep the competition fierce and fun, we're bringing in four new teams to join the adventure." The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the duo began their introductions.
Lacey introduced each team with a smile:
Cyndi and Meena in Sunny Day, its solar panels angled toward the rising sun; Mia and Tricia in The Motherly Cow Car, painted in black and white splotches, mooing softly as they loaded milk spray canisters; Brian and Tyree in The Joking Goose, already laughing at their own rubber chicken arsenal; Carlie and Mary-Kate with The Butterfly Minivan, wings fluttering and pollen blasters primed.
Stephanie stepped forward with a grin as the teams gathered at the starting line. "Before we start, I have a special announcement," she called out, her voice carrying above the hum of engines. "Since Girl Power won the last leg, Alexis and Kayla will get a 60-second head start for this stage. Use it wisely, ladies!" Cheers and playful groans echoed from the crowd, while Alexis and Kayla exchanged delighted high-fives, their ride gleaming even brighter in the morning sun.
Dawn's golden promise still hung in the air as Girl Power took their place at the front of Madrid's grand avenue. Engines fell silent, anticipation thick enough to taste. On Lacey's piercing whistle, Alexis and Kayla burst to life, their wheels carving a sparkling pink streak past sunlit plazas and shuttered cafés. For sixty thrilling seconds, they reigned alone—the city their playground, laughter and hope swirling behind them.
With the head start spent, Lacey's flag dropped, and chaos erupted. The Apple Picker, The Catmobile, The Football Plane, Heatwave, Target Practice, Sunny Day, The Motherly Cow Car, The Joking Goose, and The Butterfly Minivan roared after Girl Power, each team vying for advantage.
As the racers sped past the Palacio Real and wound out of the city, Girl Power held their lead, fending off the eager chase. The Apple Picker surged into second, apples bobbing as Jacqueline and Kate pressed forward. The Catmobile's engines thundered in third, with the Football Plane and Heatwave grappling for fourth and fifth just behind. Target Practice, arrows loaded, held sixth, while Sunny Day and The Butterfly Minivan, tailed closely, leaving The Joking Goose and The Motherly Cow Car to jostle for ninth and last.
Open highways sliced through sun-drenched fields. Along the route from Madrid to Toledo, the teams stopped at a bustling roadside gas station on the outskirts of Toledo, Spain. There, they refueled their vehicles, grabbed fresh pastries and coffee, filled up water bottles, and shared a quick nap in the grassy area behind the station—racing camaraderie blossoming as they rested side by side before returning to the road.
Girl Power's pink shimmer remained first, but The Apple Picker's turbo boost narrowed the gap, pulling them nearly side by side as they zipped past Toledo's ancient walls. The Catmobile slipped into third, overtaking The Football Plane when a stray soccer ball bounced into Jasprit and Luke's path, slowing them briefly. Heatwave's flames flared as they climbed into fourth, Target Practice held steady, and Sunny Day edged past the Butterfly Minivan for seventh.
At the Pyrenees border, customs agents barely blinked at the spectacle. Before tackling the winding mountain roads, the teams made another pit stop at a cozy French mountain inn near the border, where they refueled, loaded up on hearty baguettes and cheese, and replenished water. They caught a few hours of sleep in shared bunk rooms—laughing about the day's wild chase.
Girl Power and The Apple Picker cleared the checkpoint neck-and-neck, but The Catmobile's feline agility propelled Chris and Joseph into the lead as mountain roads twisted. By the time they sped down into Toulouse, positions shifted: The Catmobile first, Girl Power second, The Apple Picker third, Heatwave fourth, The Football Plane fifth, Sunny Day sixth, Target Practice seventh, The Butterfly Minivan eighth, The Joking Goose ninth, The Motherly Cow Car last.
Through Bordeaux's leafy avenues, Heatwave unleashed a fiery drift, leaping into third as The Apple Picker slipped to fourth. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower glimmered as racers stormed past. The city's heavy traffic nearly stalled Girl Power, allowing The Catmobile and Heatwave to slip ahead—The Catmobile now first, Heatwave second, Girl Power third. The Apple Picker rallied into fourth, The Football Plane fifth, and Target Practice's arrows knocked Sunny Day back to eighth. The Butterfly Minivan fluttered through, keeping pace just behind.
After conquering Paris's busy streets, the group took shelter in a lively Parisian café for a pit stop—refueling their vehicles, savoring croissants and hot chocolate, refilling water, and dozing together in the upstairs lounge, trading stories of the race so far.
At Calais, the teams readied for the ferry dash. The Catmobile leaped onto the ramp first, but a sudden squawk from The Joking Goose, tossing rubber chickens, distracted everyone. Girl Power and Heatwave made quick work, loading second and third. Rough seas on the crossing saw The Butterfly Minivan's wings help them steady, nudging them into sixth place as they landed in Dover.
On reaching Dover, England, the racers gathered at a classic British pub for their next pit stop—eating fish and chips, refueling, topping off water, and stretching out for a group nap in the pub's cozy parlor before tackling London's labyrinthine streets.
London's bustling streets called for clever maneuvers. The Catmobile dodged iconic double-deckers, keeping the lead. Girl Power pressed close in second, Heatwave's flames trailing in third. The Apple Picker regained momentum in fourth, and The Football Plane soared into fifth. The Butterfly Minivan fluttered past Target Practice for sixth, both Sunny Day and The Motherly Cow Car trailed in steady seventh and eighth. The Joking Goose, ever playful, held ninth.
At Heathrow, the racers loaded their vehicles into colossal cargo planes. Mid-air, strategies formed: The Catmobile plotted a swift landing, Girl Power rested for a burst in New York, Heatwave tinkered with their turbo jets.
Touching down in JFK, The Catmobile and Girl Power sped onto American soil, neck-and-neck for first. Heatwave launched after, The Apple Picker right behind. The Butterfly Minivan surprised all, darting through side streets for fifth, The Football Plane sixth. The Joking Goose, now in seventh, tried a shortcut with rubber chickens—chaos ensued, but they gained ground. Sunny Day and Target Practice lagged. The Motherly Cow Car caught up in a honking traffic jam for last place.
Arriving in New York City, the teams made a pit stop at a famous New York deli, refilling their tanks, grabbing bagels and sandwiches, filling water bottles, and sharing a few hours of sleep in a back room decked out for travelers.
Through Chicago's shimmering skyline, Heatwave seized the lead, their flames dazzling. The Catmobile and Girl Power jostled for second and third, and The Apple Picker clung to fourth. The Butterfly Minivan fluttered into fifth, The Football Plane sixth, The Joking Goose seventh, Sunny Day eighth, Target Practice ninth, and The Motherly Cow Car last.
After the Windy City's excitement, the racers stopped at a Midwest roadside diner outside Chicago, Illinois, refueling, feasting on pancakes, coffee, and eggs, topping off water, and sleeping together in a nearby motel for a crucial recharge before the final push west.
As they thundered through the Badlands' rugged rocks, the positions shifted with daring stunts and clever swaps. Girl Power surged back to second, The Catmobile dropped to third, The Apple Picker and The Butterfly Minivan were grappling for fourth and fifth.
Just before reaching Mount Rushmore, the teams made the final pit stop at a rustic South Dakota campground, refueled their vehicles, grilled hot dogs and roasted marshmallows, filled water jugs, and slept under the stars together—sharing stories and anticipation for the finish.
Under the stony gaze of Mount Rushmore, the final sprint erupted. During the competition, Marcel from the network contacted Lacey and Stephanie to instruct them to relocate the finish line to Antarctica. Heatwave, blazing ahead, claimed victory. Girl Power crossed the line next, their pink ride glittering with pride. The Catmobile rolled in third, The Apple Picker fourth, The Butterfly Minivan fifth, The Football Plane sixth, The Joking Goose seventh, Sunny Day eighth, Target Practice ninth, and The Motherly Cow Car, determined to the end, finished last.
The adventure ended with cheers and hugs—every team, every city, every wild mile a memory in the making. The race from Spain to Mount Rushmore had given them more than a finish line; it was a journey none would ever forget.
Jacob and Skylar rushed over to Lacey and Stephanie, demanding their money. Lacey replied, "Sorry, racers. We have an announcement—the race is continuing, and the next finish line will be in Antarctica's coldest regions." Stephanie added, "Because Heatwave finished first, Jacob and Skylar will start this leg of the race with a 60-second advantage. Good luck, everyone."