Jaunted

THE RACE:
Teams must fly more than 2,000 miles to Moscow, Russia. Once there, they will take taxis to a monastery to get their next clue. Nick and Starr and Toni and Dallas end up at the Almaty airport within minutes of each other. Since the first flight doesn't leave until 6:05 am, it leaves Dallas and Starr with plenty of time to hang out and hold hands. Meanwhile, Andrew and Dan have arrived--without shoes. You may recall in last week's episodes, the bumbling duo left their shoes at the Children's Puppet Theater. One would think they would have gone back at some point during the mandatory rest period to retrieve them, but apparently not. Instead, they arrive wearing hotel slippers. They decide to use some of their cash to buy the cheapest shoes they can find at the airport shops.

Everyone is on the same flight to Moscow, so there's absolutely no airport drama, which is one of our favorite aspects of the race. Instead, all of the teams arrive in Russia and make a mad scramble for taxis. Andrew and Dan start to worry about having enough money for this leg, something they should have worried about back in Almaty. All of the teams struggle to communicate with their drivers, who seem completely lost in their own city. At the monastery, teams must light a ceremonial candle in order to receive their next clue from a creepy choir made up of bald dudes with ponytails. Hot look, guys! Teams must now take a taxi to Kolosok Camp, a decommissioned military camp.

DETOUR
This week, it's Boots or Borscht. In Boots, teams must change into military uniforms, including a special foot wrap which is basically a cotton rag. Once they pass muster, teams are taught a traditional parade march. Then, teams must march alongside real Russian soldiers around the parade grounds. If the commander approves, they receive their next clue. If not, teams must go back and start over. In Borscht, teams must serve borscht to 75 soldiers seated at an outdoor mess hall. It could take some time, but the task isn't difficult and doesn't require a lot of coordination.

Toni and Dallas are the first to arrive at the Detour and choose Boots. They speed through the challenge like it was nothing, which is in stark contrast to Andrew and Dan who can't make it beyond putting on the foot wrap and boots. They get frustrated and change out of uniform and head over to Borscht, realizing too late that they needed to stay in uniform. So, it's back to Boots.

We'll say it here now: Dan is a clod. This boy has zero physical coordination. He totally over-thinks the simple march step and thrashes around like he's having some sort of painful seizure. So, the guys ditch the task and head over to Borscht one last time. Meanwhile, Ken and Tina have arrived and are zipping through the marching challenge. Nick and Starr are the last to arrive, having endured the cab ride from Hell.

ROADBLOCK
Teams head to a bakery in Zhukovsky, where one team member will have to unload fifty bags of flour, each weighing fifty-five pounds, and stack them neatly in the bakery. Dallas hits the task first, heaving two bags at once over the course of several trips. He starts slowing down and Ken and Tina arrive. It's close, but Dallas finishes first, with Ken and Tina right on his tail.

Nick and Starr are next, and what he lacks in brute strength, he more than compensates for in focus and consistency. He and Starr finish, but lose some ground looking for another taxi. Dan and Andrew arrive, and Dan comes in handy for once, and finishes the tough physical challenge. Taxi problems still plague Nick and Starr, but they eventually find one that is willing to take them back into Moscow.

PIT STOP
This week, it's Neskuchny Sad Park or "fun garden." Toni and Dallas take their first-ever first place finish and win a trip for two to romantic Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Sorry, Toni, it looks like you might have to sit that one out... We're betting Starr accompanies him on that trip. Ken and Tina enjoy a strong second place finish with Nick and Starr just barely landing in third.

OUSTED
Our favorite bumbling idiots finally land in last place, but are not eliminated. How much luckier can these guys get? And just how far will they go before that luck finally runs out?

NEXT WEEK
Surprise, surprise: Dan struggles through some sort of traditional dance challenge, and one team loses their passports and all of their money! The race is down to just four teams, and only one more elimination remains. Join us next week to find out who will make it to the final three.