Abbie and Ryan, the memorable duo from The Amazing Race, experienced a double dose of misfortune in Frankfurt, a city that may now evoke less than pleasant memories for them. Just two weeks after a missed connecting flight in Frankfurt derailed their race on The Amazing Race, fate dealt another cruel blow. A ticket agent denied them boarding for their connecting flight, and their backup plan was thwarted by mechanical issues. Adding insult to injury, the Chippendales, Jaymes and James, executed a U-Turn against them, a strategic move compounded by a pact with Natalie and Nadiya, and Trey and Lexi. “We were dead men walking,” Ryan admitted to TVGuide.com, reflecting on their ill-fated leg. “There was no way we were going to be safe unless it was a non-elimination.” As they recount their “rough” couple of legs, racing for the unprecedented $2 million prize, Abbie and Ryan share their perspectives on working with Josh and Brent, and address whether they harbor any resentment towards the Chippendales for their strategic gameplay. Perhaps, had they anticipated such travel troubles in Frankfurt, consulting a local Frankfurt Tv Guide for entertainment options during potential layovers might have offered a lighter perspective amidst the race’s pressures.
Watching the Episode Back: A Wave of Emotions
Abbie: For both of us, watching the episode was surprisingly peaceful. However, there were moments that brought tears to my eyes again. It wasn’t from being upset about our elimination, but more from the rush of emotions that resurfaced.
Ryan: I actually teared up watching Abbie last night, even knowing exactly what was coming. I felt like such a baby during the organ grinding task, head down and struggling, while Abbie was dancing in the streets of Amsterdam! Seeing her just shake off the frustration and power through it was incredible, especially because I was completely stuck in my head that day. [Laughs] It was just one of many, many moments throughout The Amazing Race where Abbie completely shocked me, doing things I just couldn’t manage.
The Frankfurt Flight Debacle: Unraveling the Mystery
What exactly went wrong with that first Frankfurt connection? Was it a missed check-in time, or something else?
Ryan: To this day, we honestly have no idea. It was utterly bizarre. I’ve even reached out to contacts in the airline industry trying to understand it. How can a plane be right there at the gate, with the gate attendant present, and we are denied boarding when we have valid tickets? Maybe I should have pressed harder and questioned the “check-in procedure,” but in all our previous travels, especially booking flights at the originating airport, we’ve always been able to board as long as we had tickets in hand. We’ve just never encountered a check-in issue like this, and we still haven’t received a satisfactory explanation.
Abbie: It was truly baffling. We were a full half-hour early. The plane was right there on the tarmac, still connected to the gate walkway! We moved on to our backup flight, which we boarded without any problems initially. Then, the sheer bad luck of the second plane breaking down struck. It was one of those planes that required boarding via a bus, adding another 20 minutes to the delay. It was just unbelievable.
Ryan: Perhaps, if we had foreseen this level of airport drama in Frankfurt, we might have even looked up a Frankfurt TV guide to see if there were any airport lounges showing something interesting to distract us from the mounting stress!
Realizing the Missed Opportunity: So Close to the Top
Abbie, you mentioned you had a chance to catch up to the leading teams if that first Frankfurt connection had worked out?
Abbie: Yes! We had no idea at the time, but watching the episode and realizing that we would have landed in time to be ahead of Trey and Lexi if we had made that first flight was just… oh my God! We didn’t see any other teams at the airport that morning at all.
Ryan: We actually watched them open their clue the night before. It was almost comical, in a horrific way. [Laughs] It was around 10 PM, and we still had another seven hours before we could even leave. Going to sleep knowing that other teams had already departed hours earlier was crazy. We assumed they might have even flown out that night. … It turned out they didn’t fly until the next morning. People keep saying we were incredibly unlucky with the flights, and while it’s frustrating, I see it as just another element of The Amazing Race. Flight logistics are as much a part of the race as any task. I appreciate that teams are responsible for booking their own flights, rather than being confined to pre-selected options. It adds a layer of unpredictability, and in our case, it cost us the race. The show is about world travel, and sometimes, travel is unpredictable!
Strategic Alliances: Working with the Beekmans
Many viewers were surprised to see how closely you worked with the Beekmans, both in Moscow and this leg, especially waiting for them during the swimming task. Did you think that alliance influenced your standing in this leg?
Abbie: No, I don’t think waiting at the swimming task significantly impacted our time. It would have only been a few minutes difference if we had left without them. We made a conscious decision to run that leg alongside them. For us, sticking to our word and commitment was important. If we had rushed ahead at the swimming task, they likely would have caught up at the Roadblock anyway, as I struggled with the locks. We would have ended up in a similar position. It wasn’t a time-costing decision of hours. And it’s easy to forget that the Beekmans had a four-hour penalty in a previous leg. While we arrived at the airport together this leg, we were actually four hours ahead of them going into the next leg. We were in the best possible standing at the airport, considering all circumstances.
Ryan: Looking back, our strategy wasn’t about finding the easiest path, but about racing with integrity. Maybe that’s not always the fastest route on The Amazing Race, but it felt right to us. And who knows, maybe in an alternate reality where we weren’t racing, Abbie and I might have enjoyed a more relaxed Frankfurt experience, perhaps even consulting a Frankfurt TV guide to explore local shows or events!
Time Zone Troubles and the U-Turn Strategy
Ryan, you lost significant time at the time zone Roadblock last week, which was quite memorable.
Ryan: [Laughs] Oh, God! That was incredibly stupid of me! I still can’t believe how long it took me to figure that out. It was a truly face-palm moment.
You anticipated being U-Turned and planned to U-Turn the Beekmans in return. Did you discuss this strategy with them?
Ryan: Yes, we did. When we were initially stuck in Frankfurt – the first time, not this elimination leg – with the Beekmans, we actually strategized a couple of legs ahead, anticipating the Double U-Turn. Our priority was to ensure that one of our two teams progressed and had a shot at winning the Race. We thought if we were U-Turned – expecting it from the girls or Trey and Lexi – and eliminated, then the Beekmans would have a better chance to go on and win. We spent the whole night discussing how to make this work, how to slingshot one of us back to the front because at that point, we were significantly behind. We forged a really deep connection with Brent and Josh, something that we hope will extend far beyond The Amazing Race. Of course, $2 million is life-changing money, and we absolutely wanted to win. But looking at the positive side, beyond the incredible travel experiences, we made some truly profound friendships.
The Beekmans’ Wait and the Double Detour Dilemma
Were you aware that the Beekmans were willing to wait for you to complete the other Detour?
Ryan: No, not entirely. We knew they were struggling, but we didn’t realize they would actually wait for us. People ask if we’re upset that we waited for them during swimming, and we’re absolutely not. The show, despite some editing choices for dramatic effect, really captured the story accurately. They showed Brent and Josh’s genuine concern and reluctance to leave us behind. What we didn’t know was the extent of their delay at the Roadblock, hoping we would catch up.
Abbie: If we had caught up then, we would have likely jumped on the mat at the same time again!
The U-Turn Reversal and the Chippendales
Ryan, in that scenario, with a tie, you would have stayed, correct? And you would have definitely U-Turned the Beekmans if the second U-Turn had been available?
Ryan: Yes, according to the rules we researched, the team that placed higher in the previous leg would advance. So, we would have stayed. And yes, as seen on the show, they actually wanted us to U-Turn them, so we could complete the second Detour together. I said on the show, and they echoed it, that they had almost resigned themselves, feeling like they had gone as far as they could. But I told them, “That’s not what we discussed. It’s not okay to just settle.” We really wanted to empower them to keep pushing, to believe in themselves. I hope they found that fire in their belly that Brent mentioned on their ride to the Roadblock. And I genuinely hope we can take some joy in their continued success if they can maintain it.
Were you genuinely angry at the Chippendales, or was it just a momentary reaction?
Abbie: No, not really angry. Initially, we were just shocked that it was them. The show didn’t highlight the alliance we had formed with Jaymes and James right from the beginning at LAX. Besides Daniel and Amy, they were one of the first teams we befriended. We had been helping each other throughout the Race, and naturally, not everything can make the final edit. That’s why we were a bit taken aback that it was them. But are we mad? No. It’s a game. The U-Turn is part of the game. We don’t fault them for making that strategic decision. We are all competitors, and eliminating a strong team is a legitimate game strategy. Of course, in the immediate aftermath, emotions are heightened, sleep-deprived and hungry, pushing yourself to overcome obstacle after obstacle. I think we were both more in disbelief about who it was, rather than disbelief at being U-Turned in general.
Ryan: Strategically, their U-Turn plan was actually quite brilliant.
The Double U-Turn Strategy: A Game Changer?
What are your thoughts on their strategy with the Double U-Turn? It’s a fairly unprecedented approach.
Ryan: It was a smart move. They effectively neutralized a strong team and turned a Double U-Turn into a single U-Turn. Well played. However, they need to be prepared for the potential consequences. They are essentially giving the Beekmans another chance, assuming they are the weaker team, but Brent and Josh have a real chance to win this whole thing. They might seem like easy targets, not always dominating each leg, but there’s much more to them than meets the eye.
Life After the Race: Pajamas and Coffee
So, what are you both up to now, post-Amazing Race?
Abbie: Right now? We’re sitting in our pajamas, enjoying coffee!
Ryan: I have a cabin in Lake Tahoe, and we just got back from a week of total unplugging there. We brought our black Labs and just immersed ourselves in nature.
Abbie: But back to reality today. I’m heading back to the dance studio, where I’ll have about 800 students ready to pepper me with questions about the episode. Mondays have become a ritual of recapping Sunday episodes, but this one… I’m both dreading and excited about it!
