I know I’m probably inviting ridicule on myself by calling Yowamushi Pedal “realistic” as a sports series.  But setting aside the Kafka-esque anatomical flights of fancy and Midousuji’s general physiognomy, I think it actually is pretty realistic – where the sports is concerned.  This is no Shounen Jump sports fantasy where it counts – Watanabe-sensei is a humongous cycling otaku and his desire to do the sport justice definitely shines through in the writing.  I think the bigger a fan of competitive cycling one is, the more one appreciates that side of Yowapeda.

Because of that, there are times when I have to remind myself that this indeed a shounen anime and not real cycling, because if I don’t I find myself getting annoyed at some of the choices Watanabe makes for perfectly valid dramatic reasons.  I think, in fact, that the central conceit of Yowamushi Pedal is one such choice – the idea that a squad like Sohoku’s is somehow stronger, more admirable and (most importantly) capable of performing better than HakoGaku in a grand tour.  Watanabe loves cycling too much to dismiss Hakone, mind you – they’re treated with narrative respect for sure, and their formidability is never in question.  But it’s the Sohoku Six who are the clear heroes of the piece, and I love those guys so that’s all good.

In truth, though, the idea that Sohoku could beat HakoGaku in a grand tour is pretty far-feteched.  To be blunt, democracy rarely works in team cycling – successful grand tours are built around a clearly-established hierarchy where everyone knows their role, no matter how salty it makes them feel (and it can be plenty salty).  They (and the series) got away with it under Kinjou’s leadership because there was a clearly defined structure and strategy; it’s just that as a result of the fact that everyone on the team was treated as an important figure, they had the ability to adjust on the fly and improvise when the situation called for it.

The situation is different under Teshima’s- well, I can’t really call it leadership.  “You guys do what you want” isn’t really a winning management style for team cycling, and while it’s already blown up in his face several times since he took over, what we’re seeing now is the culmination of it.  To go into the Inter-high without a clear leader was unforgivable.  I can (and do) blame Imaizumi for doing something really dumb in helping two Hakone riders catch up to a breakaway his team had a 50-50 chance of winning.  But it’s Teshima’s fault even more than his, because he allowed this lawlessness to continue even into the race itself.  Hotshot should have known better – and been less selfish – but he wasn’t prepared by his captain to intelligently tackle the choice he was forced to make.

That’s why the ending of this first day rings a little false for me, because Imaizumi’s deathbed conversion a few hundred meters from the finish doesn’t really cut it.  I sense he’s supposed to be painted as a bit of a hero for coming to the realization that it was Naruko who’d earned the shot, but for me it’s way too late for that.  The damage has been done – Ashikiba has been towed up to the leaders and as a result should, theoretically, have fresher legs than any of the riders in the lead pack.  Ultimately I think this comes back to that central conceit – that Sohoku’s way of racing is more admirable than HakoGaku’s.  It’s noble and it’s nice to think it could be true, but the real world of road racing doesn’t work that way.

That certainly leaves us with an interesting situation, because in addition to the drama of who wins the first day, there’s the question of what happens after.  Win or lose, Kyoto Fushimi and Hakone Gakuen have clear team leaders – Chimera-kun and Ashibika are going to be the ones racing for glory on day 3.  But what about Sohoku?  How do Imaizumi and Naruko resolve this, whatever happens in Nikko – and do they continue to ignore the fact that it was Onoda-kun who was, by far, their finest rider in last year’s Inter-high?  The truth is I think we all know who should be the ace for Sohoku (and it’s not either of the guys currently riding at the front) and who should be the domestiques.  Though truth be told, I’m not even sure TeshimAoyagi have done nearly enough even to have poached those roles…

Kuukoumake: