Recap: The Amazing Race — Sofia, Bulgaria (Express Pass, Roadblock, Elimination)
Tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race took the teams to Sofia, Bulgaria, where a mix of cultural challenges, a daring Express Pass task, and a tricky cipher slowed down several pairs. Below is a full recap of the leg, including who won the Express Pass, the Roadblock details, and which team was eliminated at the Pit Stop.
Teams began this leg by driving themselves into Sofia and locating Lake Ariana for their next clue. An Express Pass was hidden behind an unconventional challenge: walking across hot coals. Alyssa & Josiah left first and immediately opted to try for the Express Pass. Despite Josiah’s dread of heat—he even prefers hot drinks lukewarm—they completed the fire walk and secured the Express Pass. Their strong start briefly slipped later, dropping them to third overall by the time other tasks shuffled the field.
Brett & Mark were the first to reach the clue box at Lake Ariana. Their instructions sent them to a Jordan’s Day Festival: retrieve a cross from the river and bring it to a priest. Brett & Mark completed the river task quickly, then received directions to Russian Monument Square where they were told to find a klek shop. Crucially, the clue also stated teams were not permitted to take any more taxis for the remainder of the leg.
Several teams completed the Jordan’s Day Festival river task in the next wave: Alyssa & Josiah and Jonathan & Ana followed Brett & Mark. Other teams—Han & Holden, Melinda & Erika, and Carson & Jack—were still en route, with Melinda & Erika getting briefly lost and asking for directions. Brett & Mark located the klek shop and then headed to St. Kliment Ohridski Central Library for a new challenge.
At the library, teams faced a decoding task using a Cyrillic cipher to translate an ancient passage. Jonathan & Ana figured out how the cipher worked before many of the other teams, while Alyssa & Josiah struggled and debated whether to use their Express Pass to shortcut. The simple but critical twist: the English translation was printed on the back of the cipher—something several teams failed to notice at first.
Brett & Mark completed the library task and read their next clue directing them to the Museum of Socialist Art. Meanwhile, confusion about the taxi ban caused real consequences: Melinda & Erika mistakenly believed they were required to take taxis and later took another taxi, which would result in a penalty if enforced. As more teams reached the library, Jonathan & Ana helped Alyssa & Josiah by pointing out to flip the cipher for the English translation; with that hint, Alyssa & Josiah finished the task and continued racing.
Brett & Mark maintained the lead and arrived at the Central Military Club, where Phil informed them of the Roadblock: one team member had to learn and perform a line folk dance choreographed with locals to receive the next clue. Mark volunteered for the Roadblock.
Back at the library, a helpful moment unfolded when Carson & Jack realized to check the back of the cipher; Holden noticed them, and soon Han & Holden and Carson & Jack agreed to cooperate. Jonathan & Ana found the clue box while Mark took his first attempt at the dance. After an initial stumble, Mark passed the Roadblock and Brett & Mark were first to reach the Pit Stop at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, earning the leg win and a cash prize.
Josiah and Alyssa completed the Roadblock next for their team, and Jonathan & Ana followed, taking second and third respectively at the mat. Carson & Jack and Han & Holden partnered briefly to find the Museum of Socialist Art; Carson & Jack arrived ahead and completed the Roadblock to reach the Pit Stop as the fourth team. Holden later passed his dance attempt and Han & Holden checked in fifth.
Melinda & Erika, who had misread their earlier clue and continued to rely on taxis despite the ban, finished last. Phil informed them they had misread instructions, and with that, Melinda & Erika were eliminated from the race. They left the competition graciously, reflecting on their time together and calling the experience a dream.
Episode Summary
1st place: Brett & Mark
2nd place: Alyssa & Josiah
3rd place: Jonathan & Ana
4th place: Carson & Jack
5th place: Han & Holden
Eliminated: Melinda & Erika
This leg combined a physical courage challenge (the hot-coal Express Pass), a cultural river ritual, a language-based decoding task, and a rhythmic Roadblock—all set against Sofia’s landmarks. The result was a tense, strategic episode where attention to detail and local knowledge made the difference. Check back next week for another episode recap and more highlights from The Amazing Race.