The dust has finally settled on one of the most chaotic legs we've seen in years. If you're looking for who went home on The Amazing Race tonight, the answer is a tough pill to swallow for fans of the "Trainwreck" alliance. After a brutal Double U-Turn and a navigational nightmare in the winding streets of Croatia, the journey officially ended for brothers Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers.
It’s honestly wild how fast things can change on this show. Just a few weeks ago, these two were the undisputed frontrunners.
The U-Turn Vote That Changed Everything
Tonight's episode wasn't just about physical speed; it was a masterclass in social politics and, frankly, a bit of backstabbing. For the first time this season, the teams had to face a Double U-Turn vote. This isn't the old-school "first come, first served" U-Turn. This was a democratic—and very public—execution of strategy.
The voting was a mess. Pure chaos.
✨ Don't miss: Do You Believe in Love: The Song That Almost Ended Huey Lewis and the News
Taylor Hale and Kyland Young found themselves in the crosshairs early on. Taylor was actually in tears when she realized Jag and Jas had turned on their supposed "gentleman’s agreement." It was a reminder that when a million dollars is on the line, "agreements" are basically worth the paper they aren't written on.
The results of the voting rounds were staggering:
- Round One: Tucker and Eric received a plurality of votes, immediately forcing them to complete both sides of the Detour.
- Round Two: A deadlocked tie between Jag/Jas and Kyland/Taylor.
- The Outcome: In a rare and brutal twist, because the vote stayed deadlocked, three teams were U-Turned. That meant half the remaining cast had to do double the work.
Why Tucker and Eric Finally Fell
You might be wondering how the "giant" of the race—a team that had already secured four leg wins—could lose to teams that were struggling. Honestly, it came down to the one thing that kills even the strongest racers: directions.
While Jag and Jas Bains made history by finishing in first place despite being U-Turned (the first time that's happened in nearly 25 years), Tucker and Eric spiraled. They got hopelessly lost trying to find the second half of the Detour in the Croatian heat.
The brothers, who usually stay cool, started bickering. It’s that classic Race fatigue. By the time they reached the mat, Phil Keoghan had that "I'm sorry to tell you" look on his face. They were the last team to arrive and were eliminated from the competition.
The Standings After Tonight
With the brothers gone, the power dynamic has shifted. Here is how the remaining teams landed at the Pit Stop:
💡 You might also like: Diego Klattenhoff Movies and TV Shows: Why He’s the Best Actor You Keep Forgetting You Know
- Jag and Jas: History makers. They survived a U-Turn and still took the top spot.
- Jack and Chelsie: The father-daughter duo is peaking at exactly the right time. Chelsie’s memory skills during the puzzles were elite tonight.
- Izzy and Paige: They survived a scare with the Greek alphabet (which apparently is harder to learn on the fly than it looks) and stayed comfortably in the middle.
- Kyland and Taylor: They narrowly avoided disaster. Taylor’s "sorority girl energy" actually helped them power through the olive-sorting task that had them stuck for hours.
What This Means for the Finale
The elimination of Tucker and Eric removes the biggest physical threat from the board. Kyland and Taylor are still playing a very emotional game, which could be their downfall or their fuel. Meanwhile, Jag and Jas have proven they can handle a massive time penalty and still outrun everyone else.
If you're following the season, you've probably noticed that the "nice" teams are starting to play a lot meaner. The "Trainwreck" alliance is effectively dead, and it's every team for themselves as they head toward the final legs.
Next Steps for Amazing Race Fans:
- Review the Bracket: With the frontrunners out, check your fantasy leagues; the points are about to get weird.
- Watch the Ponderosa Footage: CBS usually drops "The Arrival" videos on their social platforms 24 hours after the episode, where you can see Tucker and Eric's first meal at the sequester villa.
- Set Your DVR: Next week’s leg is rumored to involve a heights-based Roadblock that several contestants have already teased as "life-changing" on their Instagram stories.
The Race is officially wide open. Grab the popcorn, because the next leg in Budapest is going to be even more intense.