10 Second Anime - Yowamushi Pedal - Glory Line - Episode 23

The finish for the 2nd day of racing leads to a photo finish. Sohoku prepares for the final day overnight.

Line.23 - "Winner"

Hmm.

Midousuji did a strange thing, for him, by rallying the spectators to his point of view after his win. Oh yeah, forgot to mention that he won with his superior bike throw against two shorter riders. He really was smart to get rid of Ashikiba before the line.

I take this not as a sign of maturity, because last year he totally ignored and disdained the public's response to his appearance and tactics. I think he noticed that some of his opponents rely on the crowd's support, so he's employing another psychological gambit by eschewing the bland sports cliches athletes give during interviews to get the some of the crowd on his side. Most people like winners, so this wasn't that hard, but it was a blow to the other favored teams.

The public vocally agrees that Midousuji's tactics, choices, and attitude are the most correct because he's a winner. Winning is the ultimate proof. Of course, that's all bullshit, but it's not like rational arguments actually sway people's emotions. I'm curious to see how Midousuji uses this new psychological weapon he forged for the last day, but that will have to wait until next season. Imaizumi and Yuuto were mentally strong enough not to be goaded into a response, so they did a good job in resisting that charged atmosphere.

Also, I haven't seen Midousuji address the crowd like this since the first day of last year's race when he called out Hakone as the losers of the overall. Midousuji was only half correct, because he was supposed to be the one winning to make them losers, and that didn't happen. I actually don't know if he even officially finished. Talk about a quitter and a loser. We'll have to see if he's just a loser for this year's race next season too.

Heh.

Imaizumi still needs a power-up. He can't keep relying on nakama fuel from his teammates. At least he's developed a manic smile which makes me confident that something is going to emerge for the final moments of the next stage.

Not much to say about the riders' internal monologues. They're just confirming their character development before the finish line.

Ugh. Just when you think Midousuji can't get any grosser, he finds a way. Grasping for the firefly of victory with every pore was never an image I wanted to see again after Fullmetal Alchemist.

Midousuji still has that hump on his back. I'm sure something will pop out of it during the last stage.

Imaizumi - "I won't lose!"

Yuuto - "I'll win!"

Midousuji - "Give up everything!"

Yup, that's each riders' personality boiled down to how they achieve victory.

Funny. Photo finish without showing us the photo like they did for yesterday's race. We won't know the actual placings until the podium presentation.

Midousuji is so happy that his new idea of gently cupping his firefly of victory so it won't escape actually worked. He's learning not to be so rigid with his plans, just like all the other captains, but with his own personal stamp on it.

So gross. He's waving his arms in a circular motion like he's a bug flapping its wings.

No, little girl! Don't do it!

Midousuji is getting the fans on his side. Does he care? Or does he have another purpose? Of course he has another purpose.

Mizuta beat Onoda for 5th place. Will this matter when we're talking about a handful of seconds for the staggered start? I'm guessing this will be made important somehow because it's a Chekhov's Gun device.

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Ah nuts. Don't apologize, Imaizumi. At least your team values your effort enough not to accept that empty gesture. Your feelings of regret aren't empty, though, and you teammates know that too.

Heh. Miki has spent enough time around guys to know that regular girls like Aya need to shut up when boys are expressing their "feels."

Hitting Imaizumi's chest is a symbol of punishment that he needs, which is why the words accompanying the tap mean so much. "Go to Hell!" says Special K. You first!

Naruko bros down hard. The hotshot he knows can show off way cooler than second place.

Midousuji's trashtalking remarks reminds me of Kuma from Dangonronpa. Buu buu!

Ah crap. Teshima is waving a death flag all up in my grill with asking Aoyagi to do that Synchro Twin thing again. Aoyagi's knee hardest hit.

Wasn't Aya with Miki for the first night? Why is she surprised about all the laundry?

These sprinters are always hiding their injuries when the most important person already knows he's hurt. I guess it's important to hide it from other teams though.

Calm down fujoshi. Danchiku is just going to be working his hands all over Aoyagi's leg in his private room with all sorts of lotions, and tapes, and sprays... Fine! Go crazy, fujoshi! It's your last opportunity before the season ends anyway.

Yay! Onoda is going on another night time ride before the final day of racing. Who's he going to meet this time?

Yeah, for the audience's sake, it's a good thing you didn't go with singing Love HIme on repeat. We need these night time rides.

Toudou and Onoda having a night time bro down with leg churning action? Keep going crazy, fujoshi!

Toudou is no Makishima, but he has always been a good mentor to Onoda. Hell, maybe they'll both meet up with Makishima during this excursion. Hope, hope, hope!

Hmm. How many number tags did Sohoku wear last year? Tadokoro got one for sure, but I think that was the only one. Lots of 2nd and 3rd placings like this year, though.

Ha! Everyone knows the Love Hime song in the omake, even Danchiku. Leave it to Imaizumi to lead the bridge!

Onoda gets the 11th end card. Looks like the week after next is the season finale, so we'll get something extra special for that one, meanwhile, we wait for Izumida's card.

Cycling Porn.

Not much in the way of cycling porn this week because of the post race drama, but we did get to see Imaizumi's Scott sprint against Yuuto's Cervelo. Onoda took his BMC out at night, and he should really get a flashing red light for the back of his bike. We also got to look at his 10 cog cassette for climbing.

It actually is a good idea to get a feel for new cogs. When there are different gear ratios, where a rider feels his effort matches his cadence will probably not be in the same cog position. Say you're used to cruising in the number 4 cog with 19 teeth, but then you get a new cassette that goes 11-28 instead of 12-25. Well, guess what? You're in luck, because that's the same for your cadence, but the 1 and 2 gears are different. The 3 and 5 positions are the same too, but the 6 is not, and the gears are all heavier all the way to number 10. Knowing which gear you're in by feel is very important to a racer so you know exactly what's happening with your feet and don't get caught out with a sudden wobble from spinning the pedals too fast or get stuck with a heavier gear than what you were expecting.