As you’ll know if you’re reading this far, TeshimAoyagi are not my favorite subset of the Yowamushi Pedal cast. But be that as it may, there’s another reason this recent subplot isn’t really clicking for me. I think it parts ways with realism a little too much, which I know sounds weird for a series featuring Midousuji Akira. But Yowapeda generally does a good job sticking to the realities of grand tour cycling in terms of tactics and strategy. Not so much here, starting with that business of Yamaguchi and Funatsu blocking Teshima and Aoyagi from trying to catch the pack.
The point is, this whole verkakte race between the two KyoFushi and Sohoku riders makes no sense. There’s no reason for TeshimAoyagi to play along with this nonsense, especially considering the rules are a gotcha. Teshima being a climber is almost certain to finish last among the four riders, so even with Aoyagi as the best sprinter all but certain to “win” (if he were healthy) Sohoku still loses by Yamaguchi’s (Midousuji’s) rules. It’s silly, and an unnecessary distraction from the actual race.
The way Watanabe gets around this is the clincher for me. Aoyagi fighting through a knee injury to keep pulling Teshima, OK, I’ll give you that – adrenaline and all. The problem comes when it shifts from pulling to pushing. As in, literally pushing – and that’s illegal. Illegal in the Tour de France and like events, anyway – and there’s no indication that rule shouldn’t exist here. One of the unwritten rules of cycle racing (there are approximately 9.2 gazillion of them) is that teammates, managers, or even spectators can give a rider a brief push under unusual circumstances, as when they’ve fallen and re-started, or mounted a new bike after a mechanical failure. But that’s not what this was – not even close.
So – weaker characters in a pointless sideshow, stretching dramatic license farther than Yowapeda generally stretches it. This is not a good development, and I’m glad it’s over. I do feel for Yamaguchi and Funatsu, whose race ended with that sideshow. In the end all domestiques are disposable in a grand tour but still, it’s a pretty ruthless way for Chimera-kun to use them up and spit them out. Especially as in the end it seems to have been largely futile – though I still wonder how much Aoyagi could have left in the tank after that, especially with a bum knee.
The situation at the front? You’d have to ask Abu, because HakoGaku finally bolted and left the Sohoku quartet behind. And fair do’s – he gave his rivals plenty of time to settle themselves. Sohoku made the decision not to chase, but to hang back and hope TeshimAoyagi could reach them – which they did, but at what cost? Depends on how far up the road Hakone has gotten. If Sohoku can reel them back in it will have been a good gamble, even with the extra energy expended – it’s up to the expendables (Kaburagi, Aoyagi, and Naruko) to get the climbers and the all-arounder back to the front. As for Kyoto Fushimi Midousuji will have to make do with only three teammates – but that was clearly his plan all along.
