Yowamushi Pedal - Limit Break - Episode 5 - 10 Second Anime

Onoda enjoys the complete Sohoku team riding together, but Aoyagi's injury doesn't let it last long.

BREAK.05 — "Seniors"

Hmm.

Yowamushi Pedal likes showing the symbolic death scenes after a cyclist sacrifices himself for the team. For pro cycling events, especially stage races, the riders never collapse and give up. They need to be there for the next day, which means they need to finish the race. But at the elite level, riders dropping out during one-day races happens all the time. National and World Champion races usually occur on a course with several laps, so when a teammate finishes his job for the day, he needs to leave the route. In cyclocross, the field could lap a rider who falls far behind, so those riders must forfeit. But they don't collapse in a heap. It's all smiles, hanging out at the bus, and cracking open a beer.

Cycling Porn.

Both Hakone and Sohoku use SIDI shoes with the old ratchet system. Leading teams usually combine into one line or pack to share wind-blocking duties until they get serious, but that looks less dramatic in anime. In recent years, intermediate sprint lines need photo finish cameras because the points have become more competitive. The bike brands for Sohoku are still Felt, Pinarello, Scott, BMC, and Cannondale. Onoda's BMC has 2011 Shimano Dura-Ace shifters, brakes, cranks, and derailleurs.

Heh.

BaKaburagi pushes the pace too hard for his Sohoku teammates. Uh oh. Naruko too! The fun of being together raised everyone's spirits. Onoda noticed it was the first time since the first sprint line on the first stage that Sohoku had ridden together in the race. Sentimental otaku. Teshima appreciates the feelings but knows it won't last long. Feed zone time again. I'll grit my teeth through the terrible handoffs. What? They did it right! While they're eating, Aoyagi burns himself out. Manly tears from BaKaburagi! I don't know if I'd cry looking at Aoyagi's puffed-out back. But he blew his knee out by catching up to Hakone. The rest of Sohoku affirms Aoyagi's sacrifice. BaKaburagi is still the audience's exposition device. Job done. The race goes on.

Part two of the racecourse: climbing! But first, we say farewell to Aoyagi. Oh, he's not dead. But he may just be for the purposes of the race. Teshima and Sohoku carry Aoyagi's spirit forward. They'd better because Hakone makes its moves. With the hills coming up, it's time to burn out the sprinters at the Sprint Point line before the road goes up. Oh, come on. Would BaKaburagi be that stupid to take the lead position right before a sprint line? Doubashi bets on it. Whoops. Nobody sprinted. Hakone accidentally took the intermediate sprint prize. BaKaburagi's sprint line is the mountain road. That's pro-level thinking right there. Except, this is BaKaburagi we're talking about. There will be a misunderstanding to explain it. But before Yowamushi Pedal can land a joke, Doubashi turns on his afterburners.

BaKaburagi's legs cramped, but who came to the front? THE NATIONAL CHAMPION OF JAPAN! Imaizumi, Naruko, and Onoda will bury Doubashi. The Sohoku seniors know how to race. Oops. Imaizumi and Naruko fight for the front of the paceline because, of course, they would. Oh, good. Kaburagi finally revealed his superpower: meshed gears! Onoda doesn't want to lose another teammate so soon, but this is the last day of racing. THE NATIONAL CHAMPION OF JAPAN roots for his junior. Of course, Kaburagi feels fired up.

Next time, the sprinters have finished their jobs. The road now leads into the mountains.