Season 5

The 3rd and final day of the tournament in which Sakamichi and Team Sohoku compete for their second consecutive championship arrives, and Sakamichi pedals as hard as he can to catch up to Imaizumi as quickly as possible.

As Sohoku and Hakone Academy temporarily work together to catch up to the aces leading the race, Kyoto Fushimi’s Midousuji and Mizuta who were racing ahead fall back to their position. Surprised by their early slowdown, Naruko asks what they’re doing. However, Midousuji is secretly advancing his plans using Kumamoto Daiichi’s Ise who is riding behind them. Meanwhile, Yamaguchi, who has been tasked with an important job in the current phase, resolves to fulfill the unreasonable demands placed on him despite his mixed emotions.

Midousuji’s strategy turns the rear pack into a giant swarm of piranhas. They swallow up riders one after another and eventually begin attacking the Sohoku and Hakone Academy teams that have been working together! Amidst the turmoil and confusion, Teshima is swallowed up by the pack. They desperately search for their partner, but betrayed by Midousuji, the pack loses speed. However, Teshima finds a ray of hope when he meets up with Aoyagi who falls back to help him. With well-coordinated teamwork, they chase after the riders ahead of them!

Teshima and Aoyagi break away from the pack to pursue the riders ahead of them, but Kyoto Fushimi stands in their way. In order to complete the objective given to him by Midousuji, Yamaguchi challenges Teshima and Aoyagi to a sprint that comes with a catch. As a climber, the terms are disadvantageous for Teshima, but they can’t move forward without accepting the challenge. Out of concern for Aoyagi, who can’t sprint at full speed due to an injured leg, Teshima pulls him along, and Aoyagi recalls how they met as he watches him…

Teshima and Aoyagi win their sprint race against Kyoto Fushimi and rejoin their team. Sakamichi enjoys racing with all six of his team members, but it doesn’t last long. Aoyagi’s legs, which have been pulling the team with all their might in order to catch up to Hakone Academy, have been in pain since the previous day and are nearing their limit. Kaburagi can’t hold back his tears as he watches the upperclassman’s back. By taking on Aoyagi’s hopes and racing for the team, Kaburagi experiences great personal growth of his own.

Both Kaburagi and Doubashi are exhausted, but they find the strength to single-mindedly pull their teams even as they threaten to lose consciousness.

Sent off by their sprinters, both teams enter the final mountains. Sohoku suffers repeated attacks from Hakone Academy and its four climbers, but through the efforts of sprinter-turned-allrounder Naruko, they make it through somehow. However, when they enter the flats between the peaks, Hakone Academy’s captain Izumida pulls his team, and they suddenly accelerate! Ace sprinter Izumida’s finely-honed muscles and spear-like racing leave Sohoku behind in an instant!

Before the race, Captain Teshima told Sakamichi that he wouldn’t be the mountain ace at this Inter-High so the team could focus on taking out Hakone Academy’s formidable climber Manami early during their first attack. However, in order to close the unexpected gap created by Izumida’s sprint, Teshima sacrifices himself and pulls the team. The passionate vibrations of every step he takes forward reach not only Sakamichi and the rest of Team Sohoku but Hakone Academy ace Ashikiba as well…!

Teshima and Ashikiba reflect on their shared history as they prepare to race for the mountain result line.

Neither Teshima nor Ashikiba back down in their intense battle for the King of the Mountain. Though Teshima desperately clings to Ashikiba, his legs are approaching their limit. Teshima was often called an average racer, but believing his dedication and ability to push himself beyond his limits is his greatest strength, he continues pedaling. His passion inspires spectators to call his name, and when Ashikiba recognizes his strength as well, Teshima unleashes unexpected capabilities.

Sohoku and Hakone Academy begin making moves towards the final finish line. As Hakone Academy accelerates due to climber Shinkai’s attack, sprinter-turned-allrounder Naruko fights back with his own astute climbing. Having received their final orders from Teshima, the team charges ahead all full speed! However, what seemed to be a race to the finish between Sohoku and Hakone Academy is thrown into chaos by the appearance of Kyoto Fushimi, who has been secretly biding their time in the back!

Sohoku and Hakone Academy begin making moves towards the final finish line. As Hakone Academy accelerates due to climber Shinkai’s attack, sprinter-turned-allrounder Naruko fights back with his own astute climbing. Having received their final orders from Teshima, the team charges ahead all full speed! However, what seemed to be a race to the finish between Sohoku and Hakone Academy is thrown into chaos by the appearance of Kyoto Fushimi, who has been secretly biding their time in the back!

The race to the finish is thrown into chaos by Kyoto Fushimi’s sudden attack. In order to stop Midousuji from reaching the front, Shinkai Yuto stands in his way. Though normally strong-willed and easygoing, the numerous battles and mounting pressure have pushed him to his limit. Shinkai’s interest in only his own victories transforms into a desire to see Hakone Academy’s jersey win. When Komari sees Shinkai steel his resolve, he is captivated by his extraordinary “flesh.”

Naruko challenges ace climber Manami to a race on the climb so his teammates can hold onto their lead.

Naruko defeats Manami and catches up to lead riders Sakamichi and Imaizumi. With their dream of finishing the race together so close to coming true, Sakamichi is elated. However, Naruko is nearly exhausted after battling against Manami and Shinkai. Kuroda is rapidly catching up from behind, and Midousuji also attacks with the finish line so near! A fierce battle for the lead begins on the high-speed downhill!

Midousuji leaps into first with a desperate diving turn. More than 200 meters behind in the final stages of the race, Sohoku chases after Midousuji on the Naruko Super Express' final trip. Even as Naruko's consciousness fades, he throws away everything to reduce his weight, and Sakamichi realizes there's no way the three of them will finish together anymore. Imaizumi and Naruko express their gratitude for Naruko's resolve. Naruko accepts their thanks and uses the last of his strength to ride with determination!

It's the last day of the Inter-High, and the lead riders are 4.5 kilometers away from the finish line. In order to defend their lead position won by Naruko's desperate resolve, Imaizumi challenges Midousuji. Despite being mentally broken by Midousuji numerous times, Imaizumi grew with his team's support, and he doesn't flinch from Midousuji's risky tactics as he rides like an ace! However, it suddenly begins raining on the last downhill before the finish line! The risky battle between Imaizumi and Midousuji in the rain begins!

Imaizumi and Midousuji engage in a high-risk downhill battle in the sudden rain. Meanwhile, Sakamichi does his best to catch up to Imaizumi while struggling with the unfamiliar rainy downhill. While competing fiercely for first, Imaizumi and Midousuji charge into a giant puddle that will determine their race! Imaizumi, who has awakened as Sohoku's ace, pushes past his limits, and unable to seize victory, Midousuji falls behind and collapses on the rainy sidewalk...

Imaizumi wins the battle in the rain and rides in the lead. Sakamichi catches up to him, and Sugimoto and the other supporting members cheer for Team Sohoku as they ride alone in the lead. While Sohoku goes for the one-two finish, Kuroda and Manami of Hakone Academy close in from behind. Kuroda sends off Manami, who instantly jumps into the lead. The dangerous situation leaves Sakamichi bewildered, but there's only one thing he can do for the team. Imaizumi gives him the final order of taking their jersey to the finish line, and Sakamichi chases after Manami at full power...!

Two kilometers from the finish line, Sakamichi receives his final orders from Imaizumi and is entrusted with winning the race. He steels his resolve and chases after Manami. In early spring before the Inter-High, Sakamichi and Manami bump into each other at the aquarium Team Sohoku visited on their way back from a race. There they promise to go all out against each other at the summer's Inter-High. When they end up racing for the finish line on the final day, despite their bewilderment and their teams' victories weighing upon them, they are delighted by their fated race against each other.

Just before Sakamichi and Manami's race to the finish, Kuroda pulls for Manami from their position behind the lead riders. One year ago, after falling into a depression when he was beaten by Manami in the qualifier, he resolved to restore Hakone Academy to its former glory when Arakita entrusted him with the team. Kuroda, who rides shrewdly when he activates his switch, endures the pain in the leg before finally trusting Manami with his own hopes and sending him off. Manami spreads his wings and accelerates. Meanwhile, as Sakamichi falls behind, for some reason a song begins playing in his head!

The class rep waits for Manami at the finish line in the mountains in order to show her support. When Manami was distraught over losing to Sohoku at last year's Inter-High, she didn't know what to say to him. She became concerned about the way he practiced to the point of injuring himself and asked Toudou for advice, but he responded that the deep wounds Manami suffered wouldn't heal right away, and all she could do was watch over him. One year later, the class rep sensed Manami was finding an answer as the race approached.

After the day Kinjou reminded Sakamichi that Team Sohoku support each other when times are tough and he learned Makishima is reading his letters in England, he begins recovering at a surprising rate. When Arakita hears this, he realizes Sakamichi has what it takes to claim the finish line. With 500 meters remaining, the seniors cheer for Sakamichi and Manami as they race as hard as they can! Encouraged by Makishima's words, Sakamichi taps into the last of his strength. With their hopes in their hearts, they sprint for the finish line...!

There are 500 meters left for the finish line of the third and last day of the Intercollegiate Cycling Race. Onoda and Manami fight centimeter by centimeter, and are supported and cheered by their peers and veterans. Who will be crowned winner?

Sangaku and Onoda duel 50 meters from the finish line. Who will win? Who will come in second and third place? Who will hold out until the end of the test? The third day of Intercollegiate comes to an end.