Three years ago, rising cycling star Cal Scott abruptly quit his T Mobile team and returned to California, determined to abandon racing forever. Now Cal's father has an offer: Join him for a trip to Italy for some recreational cycling, no strings attached. Cal suspects that his bulldog-defense-attorney father has another agenda; the trip coincides with Bassano del Grappa's tortuous race up the slopes of Monte Grappa. In Italy, Cal comes under the tutelage of his father's friend and famous cycling coach, Gianni Di Salvo, who brings Cal onto his team with the offer of all the support he needs to enter and win the race, if only he can get his head and heart right with racing again. Cal discovers the embers of racing still burn hot, as does his love for Di Salvo's beautiful daughter, Daniella. Chain Reaction tells the story of Cal's quest to purge himself of his past and discover that beyond the cutthroat side of pro cycling is the essence of the sport: being pushed beyond one's limit to achieve the impossible.