A new episode of The Amazing Race aired tonight on CBS. Below is a live-style recap of the leg, detailing the teams’ route through Germany and France, the challenges they faced, and the elimination at the end of the episode.
This leg sent teams by plane to Frankfurt, Germany, followed by a train to Strasbourg, France. Their next clue awaited at the Council of Europe. All teams managed to board the same train to Strasbourg and then drove themselves in marked cars to the Council of Europe, where the race tasks began in earnest.
Han & Holden were the first to arrive at the Council of Europe. Jonathan & Ana and Carson & Jack arrived soon after but had to wait five minutes for the building to open. Meanwhile, Brett & Mark ran into navigation trouble and got lost on their way.
When the Council of Europe opened, teams had to answer a question correctly to receive their next clue: identify which of the countries they had previously visited are members of the Council of Europe. The correct answers were Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, and France. Carson & Jack, Han & Holden, and Jonathan & Ana answered correctly right away. Alyssa & Josiah initially gave incorrect responses but eventually fixed them and moved on. Brett & Mark, after finally finding the Council, also answered correctly and continued to the next task.
The clue directed teams to Pont Couverts, where they would face a Head-to-Head challenge in the form of a Roadblock. At this challenge, one team member at a time would compete against another team’s member in water jousting — a winner-advances format where the loser can return to the queue and try again against the next team. Any team that failed to win a single match would incur a 10-minute penalty. Han chose to take on the Roadblock for his team, and Carson volunteered for his team as well.
Han and Carson were matched first. Han succeeded in knocking Carson into the water and advanced with Holden to the next location: La Cloche a Fromage. Carson later faced Jonathan; both battled for balance, and Jonathan ultimately slipped into the water, allowing Carson & Jack to move forward. Jonathan then beat Josiah, and Jonathan & Ana advanced to the cheese task. The final Head-to-Head paired Josiah and Mark — Mark lost and went into the water, which meant Brett & Mark would finish the Head-to-Head without a win and accept the 10-minute penalty.
At La Cloche a Fromage, teams had to correctly identify nine cheeses. Han & Holden arrived first and set to work. Carson & Jack joined them shortly thereafter, while Jonathan & Ana and Alyssa & Josiah arrived before any team completed the identifications. Alyssa was eager to use their Express Pass early, but Josiah wanted to attempt the puzzle first. When Alyssa & Josiah failed their initial try, they debated using the Express Pass. Brett & Mark, who had been delayed, arrived and Mark took the Roadblock earlier; after losing his Head-to-Head, they still completed the cheese task ahead of Alyssa & Josiah, increasing the pressure on that pair.
Han & Holden finally completed the cheese identifications after multiple attempts and received their next clue directing them to Strasbourg Cathedral. Carson & Jack and Jonathan & Ana followed soon after. Alyssa & Josiah ultimately decided to use their Express Pass, allowing them to skip remaining attempts at the cheese challenge and drive straight to the cathedral. That choice was risky: they saved time on the cheese task but had invested time agonizing over whether to use the Pass.
At Strasbourg Cathedral, teams climbed the tower to retrieve a clue that sent them to a Detour: Out To Dry or For The Birds. Out To Dry required teams to wash a tub full of dirty garments until they met a cleanliness standard. For The Birds asked teams to construct a stable platform suitable for a bird’s nest. Han & Holden and Carson & Jack chose Out To Dry, while Brett & Mark and Alyssa & Josiah chose For The Birds. Jonathan & Ana initially debated their choice and decided upon arrival.
Competition intensified at both Detour sites. Carson & Jack completed Out To Dry first and raced to the Pit Stop at Table D’Orientation, where Phil confirmed their win. Carson & Jack finished in 1st place and took home Expedia OneKeyCash for a trip to Helsinki, Finland. Back at For The Birds, Alyssa & Josiah and Brett & Mark struggled with their structures until Alyssa & Josiah managed to meet the requirement and left for the Pit Stop. Brett & Mark completed the task shortly after and opted to follow Alyssa & Josiah to the Pit Stop rather than asking for directions, hoping to avoid further delay.
Jonathan & Ana completed Out To Dry next and headed to the Pit Stop. Han & Holden finished their laundry task later and arrived behind them. Alyssa & Josiah reached the mat in tears, worried they were eliminated, but Phil revealed they were safe as 2nd place. Jonathan & Ana checked in as 3rd, and Han & Holden took 4th. Brett & Mark arrived after a final scramble and, because of their earlier 10-minute penalty and overall time deficit, Phil announced their elimination from the race. They left grateful for the experience but disappointed to go home.
Episode Summary
1st place: Carson & Jack
2nd place: Alyssa & Josiah
3rd place: Jonathan & Ana
4th place: Han & Holden
Eliminated: Brett & Mark
That concludes tonight’s leg of The Amazing Race. The episode combined strategic choices — like whether to use the Express Pass — with physical and mental challenges across Strasbourg, producing tense moments, team tensions, and ultimately a heartfelt elimination. Tune in next week for another leg and more high-stakes racing around the world.