Tonight’s leg of The Amazing Race began under new starting rules: teams departed in staggered groups, leaving every 15 minutes. The first pair to set off were Ryan & Dusty, followed closely by Kim & Penn. All teams learned their first destination was the iconic Verzasca Dam, where they would face a Roadblock consisting of a 722-foot bungee jump. Each team had to select one member to complete the jump; Dusty and Kim volunteered for their teams, while the other teams designated Lala, Cayla, Natalia, and Sheridan to perform the Roadblock. Sheridan took the task because her partner Akbar was not medically cleared to jump.
At the dam, a quick game of rock-paper-scissors determined the jumping order. Dusty went first and, once he landed, immediately received his next clue directing him and Ryan to Lugano, Switzerland, specifically to Piazza Carlo Battaglini. Kim was the next to take the plunge; Penn watched in tears, visibly shaken by how difficult it was for Kim to complete the jump. After Kim finished, Penn embraced her and expressed how proud he was. Sheridan, although extremely nervous and repeatedly saying “Oh, my God,” ultimately summoned the courage to jump and completed the Roadblock for her team.
Other teams completed the bungee jumps in succession: Lala finished her Roadblock and reunited with Lulu, while Cayla and Natalia each completed the jump for their respective teams. Some teams struggled with navigation along the way—Raquel & Cayla and Arun & Natalia experienced confusion en route to the dam, which cost them valuable time and left them further back in the standings.
Arriving in Lugano, teams were presented with a Detour at Piazza Carlo Battaglini: Bartender Race or Sausage Encase. Bartender Race required teams to deliver 12 bottles of wine and 12 bags of chestnuts intact to a bartender, navigating a long, steep street staircase to complete the deliveries. Sausage Encase called for careful sausage preparation—squeezing sausage into casings and coiling them for sale. Ryan & Dusty opted for Bartender Race, assuming the delivery task would be straightforward; however, they were surprised by how steep and lengthy the staircase proved to be. Lulu & Lala chose Sausage Encase and moved quickly, while Kim & Penn eventually found the clue box and also picked Bartender Race, though they struggled to locate the correct start point and had to ask locals for directions.
Akbar & Sheridan arrived at Piazza Carlo Battaglini and selected Bartender Race as well. Akbar offered tips to Ryan & Dusty on where to collect the wine and suggested making the deliveries in two trips to avoid tiring themselves. Sheridan initially ignored that advice and attempted to carry all the bottles at once, only to realize it was impractical and turn back for a second trip—frustrating Akbar due to the time wasted. Meanwhile, Arun & Natalia continued to have navigation troubles, at one point driving in the opposite direction and losing more time.
During the Detour, incidents further affected team standings. Sheridan accidentally dropped a bottle, forcing Akbar & Sheridan to locate a replacement before they could finish. Raquel & Cayla, who had chosen Sausage Encase, made steady progress and began closing the gap on their rivals. Despite setbacks, Ryan & Dusty completed their Detour and received a clue featuring a photograph of a building—a hint leading them to Parco Ciani, which served as the Pit Stop for this leg. Teams had to ask locals for directions to identify the exact Pit Stop location.
Ryan & Dusty reached Parco Ciani first and were declared the leg winners. Their strong navigation and efficient Detour performance earned them the top spot as well as a reward trip to Dominica. Lulu & Lala arrived next, claiming second place after completing the Sausage Encase task. Kim & Penn managed to make up ground despite their earlier struggles and checked in third. Raquel & Cayla held on to fourth place, while Akbar & Sheridan finished the leg in fifth after dealing with the broken bottle and the earlier back-and-forth decisions.
Arun & Natalia finally arrived at the Pit Stop near sunset after a day of getting lost and completing the Sausage Encase Detour. They crossed the mat last, but Phil revealed that this leg was a non-elimination round. Though they were spared from elimination, Natalia vowed they would not finish last in the next leg and promised a stronger performance going forward.
Leg Summary
1st place: Ryan & Dusty (won a trip to Dominica)
2nd place: Lulu & Lala
3rd place: Kim & Penn
4th place: Raquel & Cayla
5th place: Akbar & Sheridan
6th place: Arun & Natalia
Eliminated: No one (non-elimination leg)
That concludes this episode of The Amazing Race. Teams faced high-altitude nerves at Verzasca Dam, tight staircases in Lugano, and a mix of navigational and teamwork challenges that reshuffled the standings. Tune in next week for another leg as the racers continue their journey.