Way of rising to beat a lost race (9)
I believe the answer is:
escalator
'way of rising' is the definition.
'escalator' can be an answer for 'way' (escalator is a kind of way). I am not certain of the 'of rising' bit.
'beat a lost race' is the wordplay.
'beat' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'lost'+'race'='alostrace'
'alostrace' with letters rearranged gives 'ESCALATOR'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for escalator that I've seen before include "Mechanised staircase" , "Carol eats (anag.)" , "the easy way up" , "it moves up and down" , "Moving staircase" .)