The first half of the final is over, but the full prize will be awarded this episode.
Faking a Claim
TJ offers the chance to stake a claim — and no one takes the bait. Some people, like Sydney, feel loyalty to their partner. Other competitors, like Cedric, worry that staking a claim means he’ll need to do an extra task, and he doesn’t want to spend any extra energy. Either way, the teams stay in tact and this twist was just a cliffhanger.
Checkpoint 6: The Overnight Portion
We’re at the overnight portion, and the competitors might get to sleep. The teammates can untether from each other, and one competitor will stand on a log by the fire while the other one goes into a tent and sleeps. Because they came in first, Turbo & Sydney only have to do this for 6 hours, Michaela & Cedric do it for 7 hours, Olivia & Yeremi do it for 8 hours, and Theo & Adrienne must do this all night. Sydney is upset, because all of her day one efforts translate to a shared extra hour of sleep. So, half the competitors spend the night hanging out by the fire. Adrienne takes this as a chance to chat, and everyone begrudgingly spends the night standing on a log. When the morning comes, Cedric can’t find his rope to connect back to Michaela. Theo might have taken it, but it seems to be lost.
A Team Disconnected
It’s time for the second day, and the teams will need to climb a mountain that’s nearly 13,000 feet high. Along the way, there will be checkpoints, and the first team to complete the trek and reach the top of the mountain will win this season. Then, Cedric confesses he lost his rope, so TJ gives him & Michaela a 5-minute penalty… and a new rope.
Check Point 7: Partner Trivia
Sydney & Turbo are the first ones to get to this checkpoint, and it’s a game of multiple choice trivia. Every question is about their partner, and selecting the correct answers will generate a 4-digit code that unlocks a safe. If a player is incorrect, they need to run into a crater and get a token corresponding to the question they think they got wrong. Then, they’ll try to get the correct code again. Sydney answers perfectly in her first attempt (of course), but Turbo gets a question wrong because he doesn’t know Sydney’s middle name. Olivia & Yeremi are the second team at the checkpoint, but they both fail to answer the questions correctly. Michaela & Cedric arrive last, and this could be their chance to make up for their penalty, but they answer questions incorrectly because they don’t know each other’s middle names and zodiac signs.
Here is the order the teams leave this checkpoint:
1. Turbo & Sydney
2. Olivia & Yeremi
3. Theo & Adrienne
4. Michaela & Cedric
Checkpoint 8: “Drop Them In”
As the final continues, the elevation gets higher and it gets harder to breathe. Sydney is pulling Turbo again, and Adrienne is struggling to breathe. Surprisingly, Adrienne gets support from Theo while Sydney is insisting Turbo jogs with her. Eventually, Turbo & Sydney arrive at the next checkpoint, and the teams have to play Connect Four. This means the first place team needs to wait for the second place team to even have a chance at advancing. After a long game, Turbo & Sydney beat Olivia & Yeremi and are the first ones to leave. This means Olivia & Yeremi need to wait for the third-place team, Theo & Adrienne, and Theo beats Olivia in the second game. In the final round Cedric beats Yeremi, giving Olivia & Yeremi a 10-minute penalty
This is the order teams left this checkpoint:
1. Turbo & Sydney
2. Theo & Adrienne
3. Michaela & Cedric
4. Olivia & Yeremi
An Early End of the Road
The final continues, and the teams climb higher, and conditions get tougher. Eventually, Michaela & Cedric pass Theo & Adrienne, and then, Olivia & Yeremi pass them too. Yeremi insists on keeping a strong pace, and eventually, he & Olivia reclaim second place by passing Michaela & Cedric. This is great progress for the duo, but they’ve left Theo & Adrienne in the dust. Adrienne keeps stopping, and she’s feeling very lightheaded. She fears she won’t be able to continue, and eventually a producer steps in, He tells her that the third-place team is very far in the distance, so Theo & Adrienne decide to bow out in fourth place.
Strides to Victory
Michaela starts to struggle with her injured ankle and the gravelly terrain. She keeps falling, and eventually, a producer forces her to take her vitals. She’s cleared to continue, but warned to take it easy (of course, she doesn’t know she’s guaranteed third place if she finishes). Meanwhile, Olivia & Yeremi continue to make progress. They see Sydney & Turbo, and they’re closing the gap. Sydney & Turbo try to pick up the pace, but Turbo’s vision is getting blurry. He can’t move too fast, and eventually, Olivia & Yeremi pass them.
The Climb to Victory
Yeremi & Olivia see the chest at the top of the mountain, and they insert their keys. The chest opens, and they take a come-from-behind victory, becoming Challenge champions. Turbo is mortified to see his lead disappear, and he & Sydney take second place. When Turbo & Sydney come in second, there’s no celebration. He wants off the mountain, and the crew worries he’s getting hypothermia. They airlift him off the mountain, and after some time passes, Michaela & Cedric climb to the top and get third place.
Final placements:
First ($425,000): Olivia & Yeremi
Second ($50,000): Turbo & Sydney
Third ($25,000): Michaela & Cedric
Stop Being Polite 