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After cycling rush, is arriving before everyone else (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

earliest

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'else' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for earliest that I've seen before include "Next available" , "Nearest the beginning in time" , "Ateliers (anag.)" , "With the least delay" , "Nearest the start of a time period" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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