PHOTO FINISH
After Brian & Greg and Lynn & Alex stepped onto the mat in fourth and fifth place respectively, the final truck pulled into Pisac. Jumping out, Megan & Heidi, Ryan & Chuck and Ron & Kelly searched frantically for the cluebox in the marketplace. Getting a quick jump, Ryan & Chuck sped away in a taxi, followed closely by Megan & Heidi, while Ron & Kelly now found themselves in last place.

With Meredith & Gretchen, Ray & Deana and Uchenna & Joyce arriving at the Pit Stop in sixth through eight places, the last three Teams hoped for a miracle to stay in the Race. Ron & Kelly caught a major break when their taxi driver passed both Megan & Heidi and Ryan & Chuck. However, all three taxis arrived at La Merced at the same time, forcing a footrace to avoid elimination. Megan & Heidi broke off from the pack and found the closest entrance to the church, stepping onto the mat in ninth place. After racing down corridors of the church together, Ron & Kelly edged out Ryan & Chuck by a matter of seconds to claim tenth place. Stepping on the mat in last place, Ryan & Chuck were informed by Phil that they were the first Team eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE. On his friend, Ryan remarked, “The friendship between Chuck and I is a lot more important than being first or last. He’s the only person that’s ever stuck with me.” Chuck added, “It’s very disheartening to be the first Team off, but no matter what Ryan and I will be best friends for life.”