Reality TV
High Stakes in Albania | Express Passes Burned and a Pit Stop Reprieve on The Amazing Race 39
The pressure on Season 39 of The Amazing Race reached a boiling point during Leg 6. Navigating the historic streets and coastal turns of Albania, the eight remaining teams faced a strict deadline: it was the final leg where the coveted Express Passes could be played.
The pressure on Season 39 of The Amazing Race reached a boiling point during Leg 6. Navigating the historic streets and coastal turns of Albania, the eight remaining teams faced a strict deadline: it was the absolute final leg where the coveted Express Passes could be played.
With frontrunners racing to protect their position and trailing teams burning advantages to avoid the back of the pack, host Phil Keoghan delivered a major cliffhanger twist at the Pit Stop.
The Amazing Race Season 39 Leg 6 Summary
- Location: Albania, next stop Sri Lanka
- Leg Winners: Michelle and Matt Patterson, claimed 1st place
- Last Place Team: Doug Matter and Dylan Matter, saved by non-elimination
- Advantage Usage: Both remaining Express Passes played, by Michelle and Matt plus Conner and Garrett
- Upcoming Twist: Double U-Turn vote teased for Leg 7
Leg 6 Progression
Intersection Roadblock, then the "Heads or Tails" Detour, then Express Pass plays, then the Pit Stop and non-elimination save.
Burning the Express Passes | Strategy Under Pressure
With the rulebook mandating that all unused Express Passes expire after Leg 6, two teams executed strategic plays:
- Michelle and Matt Patterson. Despite already holding a solid lead at the "Heads" Detour, the married couple opted to flush their Express Pass early to bypass the remaining tasks entirely, cruising to a 1st place finish.
- Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire. Falling into the middle of the pack after a delayed Roadblock, Conner and Garrett played their Express Pass at the "Tails" Detour, jumping up the standings to lock in a 3rd place arrival.
The Pit Stop Reprieve and the Sri Lanka Tease
At the bottom of the order, grandfather-and-grandson duo Doug and Dylan Matter struggled to recover from initial navigation delays and mistimed Detour checks. Arriving last at the Pit Stop mat, they faced potential elimination.
However, Phil Keoghan revealed that Leg 6 was a non-elimination leg, giving Doug and Dylan a second chance to stay in the hunt for the $1 million grand prize.
Leg 6 Arrival Order
- Michelle and Matt Patterson
- Daisha Wilks and Dalton Hamby
- Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire
- Ann-Marie Tejcek and Riley Tejcek
- Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman
- Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager Ballesca
- Erin Taylor and Javi Vintimilla
- Doug Matter and Dylan Matter (non-elimination)
As the teams boarded their flight to Sri Lanka for Leg 7, Keoghan dropped a final bombshell: all eight pairs will cast votes for a Double U-Turn immediately upon arrival.
For the full field of teams and the all-Express Pass starting twist, read our Amazing Race Season 39 cast guide. More competition recaps live in the Reality TV hub, including Survivor 51 Episode 6.