Thanks to Naruko's sacrifice Sohoku manages to catch Hakone. Fukutomi admits he thought Sohoku would fall apart and yet they managed to catch up, but he says they can never prevail without a true ace. Imaizumi declares that he is the new ace and he will take first. Onoda is shocked and asks Makishima if it's ok. Makishima says it is fine because he and Toudou would never let the other finish in first as the ace. Imaizumi then decides to get reckless and move ahead on his own. Makishima keeps Toudou at bay and forces Fukutomi to pursue him. Everytime Fukutomi catches up Imaizumi puts on another burst of speed. We see how Imaizumi became addicted to road racing and how he first met the Kanzaki's. Finally we see Imaizumi thinking to himself and knowing he can win if nothing else changes. However a medical van is further back on the road. It picks up Naruko and has him withdraw from the race. They then clear the road because more racers are coming. Ishigaki collapses and then tells Midosuji to press on at full strength and he will win. An ominious wind then begins to blow as Midosuji begins to ascend the final 15km on his own.
山岳区間をスプリンターである鳴子の全力引きにより、箱根学園を捉えた総北だが、体力を限界まで使い果たした鳴子は、コース脇に自転車ごと倒れ込んでしまう。ゴールまで残り15km、鳴子の意思を継いだ今泉は、自らを総北のエースと宣言し、箱根学園のエース･福富に挑む!
산악구간을 스프린터인 나루코가 전력으로 리드하여 하코네 학교를 따라잡은 소호쿠지만 체력을 한계까지 써버린 나루코는 코스 옆에 자전거 채로 쓰러져 버린다. 골까지 남은 거리 15km 나루코의 의지를 이어 받은 이마이즈미는 스스로를 소호쿠의 에이스라고 선언하고 하코네학교의 에이스인 후쿠토미에게 도전한다!
