Inline style overriding TT1 variables

Hi there,
I am adjusting colors through some of the very helpful variables defined within the Twenty Twenty-One (TT1) theme. I changed --wp--style--color--link, but an inline style for <a> elements was overriding the TT1 variable even with !important:

a {                  inline:6
    color: #316096;
}

I found that this came from the primary link color I set in the Customizer. I have removed that, so my custom css is now working. But, I’m curious as to the mechanics of this; I guess my assumption was that the Customizer would set the --wp--style--color--link variable, but it must work in its own way?

Thanks!