Ronald Hsu & Christina Hsu, TK Erwin & Rachel Rosales and Nicolas Fulks & Donald Jerousek are the three teams racing for the top prize of one million dollars. TK and Rachel have issues with a Detour, while Donald comes down Nicolas after he makes a mistake. Meanwhile, Ronald watches as Christina hangs on for her life in a challenging task.

The teams take off from the Pit Stop at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California and are instructed to fly to Shannon, Ireland. A flight delay leaves teams that thought they were ahead scrambling to catch up. The teams travel to the world's smallest church and then sign up for one of the three ferries departing the next morning. They're then directed to drive 42 miles to Cleggan farm where they must ride a tandem bike to a clue. One member of each team then completes a task that involves more biking -- highwire bicycling while their teammate rides below. Many teams are then frustrated by a task that requires them to fill a basket with fifteen pieces of peat and then transport it using a donkey. Controlling the donkeys proves more difficult for some teams than others and once again some leading teams take a plunge. Ultimately, one team is unable to recover from poor performance on this task and is eliminated from the race.

Tension is at an all-time high after the previous leg's airport fiasco. The remaining teams continue in the ninth leg of the race.

The remaining teams continue in the penultimate leg of the race, with the guarantee that one team will be eliminated and the first three at the Pit Stop will be the final three racing for one million dollars. They take off from their Pit Stop in Osaka, Japan and receive a clue instructing them to travel to the Floating Garden of the Umeda Sky Garden. Its 10 A.M. opening time gives the lowest ranked team a great advantage and, upon arriving there, teams receive a clue instructing them to fly 1,000 miles to Taipei, Taiwan. Once in Taiwan, teams travel by high-speed rail to Taichung and then taxi to Acrobatics Jeep. One team, becoming increasingly infuriated by the placement of another, declares themselves to be "out for blood" and threatens to "rip the dreads" out of another racer's head. Teams face a Roadblock that requires one member of each team to undergo two harrowing rides in stunt cars. They next take another high-speed rail trip, but one must complete a Speed Bump before continuing. All teams complete the Detour, in which they walk barefoot on jagged stone. They race for the Pit Stop at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Plaza, a monument to the late president of China. One team arrives last and receives the news that they have not reached the final three and are eliminated from the race.

The remaining ten teams head to the Netherlands for the second leg, where they face a pole-vaulting challenge.

The nine remaining teams continue in the third leg of the race. Leaving the relative familiarity of Europe, the teams now must travel to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in west Africa. Christina continues to have issues with her obstinate father. Lorena suffers a breakdown during a Roadblock involving camels.

The remaining eight teams continued in the fourth leg of the race. Taking off from their Pit Stop in the village of Bingo, they received an offering of a chicken from a local chief and then were instructed to travel 100 miles by taxi Bouda Pelegtanga and find their next clue. Once there, teams were faced with a Detour that tested their skills at either panning for gold or rhythmic dancing. Some teams were slowed by a penalty when their dancing didn't measure up, while others zipped ahead. One team was hit with a new twist in the race requiring them to do additional work. Teams eventually traveled to the Tampouy Goat Market by taxi, where a Roadblock involving a goat proved frustrating for several racers. One team was unable to catch up after having lagged behind the entire race. They arrived at the Pit Stop at the Hotel de Ville and received the unfortunate news that they were eliminated.

The remaining teams tackle the fifth leg of the race. Ronald, already nursing an injury, takes a spill at a Detour task involving stilts. Shana and Jennifer have a harrowing moment involving an oncoming bus.

Five teams have already fallen by the wayside. The teams face mounting pressure as they race in the sixth leg. Azaria begins losing patience with Hendekea. Nathan and Jennifer reach a "breaking point" during a task that involves rowing.

The remaining five teams take off from their Pit Stop at the Stone Cross in Dubrovnik, Croatia and receive a clue instructing them to travel by ferry to Ancona, Italy. All teams must first travel by bus to Split, Croatia. All teams make the same ferry, but tricky driving in Ancona causes delays for several teams, such that only two have arrived when the Roadblock opens at 7 A.M. at the Roadblock. One racer struggles repeatedly at the Roadblock, while another team advances their position by opting for a Fast Forward that requires a major physical alteration. Along the way, teams receive a message from home on a Blackberry, which is not allowed to be used for any other purpose. One team is frustrated when they lose their clue. One racer becomes frustrated with their partner during a difficult driving situation, ordering them to "stop this car!" Another team faces a flat-tire, but overcomes the difficulty to avoid last place. The team checking into the Pit Stop at the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy is surprised and delighted to learn that they are not eliminated, though less delighted to learn that they will be faced with an additional task on the next leg.

The remaining teams continue in the eighth leg of the race. The continued stress of the race takes its toll on Ronald and Christina, causing them to revert to their old, poor communication. Kynt & Vyxsin use dirty play by resorting to "performance art" in an attempt to trick two competitors into purchasing tickets for a later flight, as they find themselves facing an additional task called the Speed Bump that will not have to be completed by any other teams. A "nail-biting race to the Pit Stop" is promised. The teams face various tasks in Mumbai, India, where tasks involve elephants and propane tanks.