Ep. 37: Midosuji accelerates to phase 13, leaving Hakone sprinters behind as the crown passes.

37

Hakone’s sprinters fall further behind as Midosuji’s team abandons phases 11 and 12 to accelerate directly to phase 13. This strategy leaves Ihara and Yamaguchi behind Kyoto Fushimi, causing them to collapse and withdraw. Fukutomi pursues with Toudou, while Izumida worries about his own fate. Midosuji claims the mountain checkpoint easily due to a 4-on-2 advantage, declaring the crown has passed. Ishigaki slows down while reminiscing about his destroyed team vision, until Midosuji threatens to leave him. Midosuji asserts that victory requires abandoning everything. Ichigaki confronts Fukutomi about abandoning teammates, but Fukutomi denies it. With 8 kilometers remaining, Ishigaki notices pursuers. Fukutomi insists his team has no dead weight and that his teammates will arrive.