'The Amazing Race' eliminates blind-dating couple Bergen Olson and Kurt Jordan Belcher

The Amazing Race eliminated blind dating couple Bergen Olson and Kurt Jordan Belcher during the 26th season's fifth episode Friday night on CBS.


Bergen, a 23-year-old human resources project manager from Sunnyvale, CA, and Kurt, a 24-year-old pageant consultant from Butler, KY, were ousted from the race around the world after they finished the fifth leg in last place. They are the first blind-dating couple to be eliminated from this season.

"I think there was some tension today, but I'm not bitter. I'm not bitter at all," Kurt told The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan.

"There's no butterflies and rainbows here today," Bergen added. "Today was awful."

"I'm fine with the choice we made," Kurt told the cameras afterwards.


"It was not fine!" said Bergen. "Damnit. We're in a f-cking race."

"It wasn't meant for me and Bergen to win The Amazing Race," Kurt said.

"He signed up for this and you can't just give up right away when you find out you're not going to find love. He gave up. I'm pretty disappointed," Bergen noted.

Blind date Laura Pierson and Tyler Adams enjoyed a special date after arriving at the fourth Pit Stop, but Tyler admitted to the cameras they were "in the friendship zone for sure."

Bergen and Kurt departed the fourth Pit Stop in first place at 3:03PM. They were then followed by blind date Hayley Keel and Blair Townsend at 3:06PM, dating couple Aly Dudek and Steven Langton at 3:12PM, blind date Laura Pierson and Tyler Adams at 3:51PM, and Jeff and Jackie at 4:20PM.


The other times were not shown, but all the pairs got on the same flight into Munich, Germany that arrived at 6:45AM.

The team's first set of clues instructed them to fly more than 5,000 miles from Asia to the heart of Europe and then make their way to a clothing store called Wies'n Tracht & Mehr. They then had to pick out the appropriate German attire in order to blend in with the Oktoberfest crowd.

Laura and Tyler got the clothing store first. They were then followed by blind date Jackie Ibarra and Jeffrey Weldon, Bergen and Kurt, Hayley and Blair, dating couple Matt Cucolo and Ashley Gordon, blind date Jenny Wu and Jelani Roy, and finally dating couple Michael Dombrowski and Rochelle Nevedal.

Once the pairs got their costumes on and approved, they were instructed to proceed to Alter Peter Tower.

Laura and Tyler got to the tower in first place. They were soon followed by Bergen and Kurt, Hayley and Blair, Aly and Steve, Jeff and Jackie, Mike and Rochelle, and Jenny and Jelani.


The teams had to climb to the top of the tower and look down to discover where their Ford cars were awaiting them. Once in the cars, they had to drive themselves to Schlafwagenfabrik to receive their next clue.

Laura and Tyler ended up switching cars without realizing Tyler had left his fannypack in the first car -- which held both of their passports.

Meanwhile, Bergen and Kurt didn't know how to drive a stick-shift car. Bergen tried to drive it but struggled to even move, and Kurt was nervous. Jeff and Jackie also got into a brutal argument because Jackie felt he cut her off when she was trying to talk. Around this point in the leg, Mike and Rochelle also got lost.

Aly and Steve arrived at Schlafwagenfabrik in first place. They were then followed by Laura and Tyler, Matt and Ashley, Hayley and Blair, Jeff and Jackie, Jenny and Jelani, Mike and Rochelle and finally Bergen and Kurt.

The teams' next set of clues instructed them to use the rear-view camera in the car to drive themselves backwards through a Winter Wonderland scene. They had to piece letters together on different street signs to learn their next clue, which was heading off to Schliersee.


Tyler realized at this destination he had left his fannypack behind. He and Laura therefore decided to do the challenge but then go back and try to find the bag. They waited at the tower until a team arrived with the car it had been left in.

Jeff and Jackie ended up lying to Laura and Tyler, saying they hadn't found the bag, but Laura and Tyler discovered it shoved under one of their seats. It therefore became obvious to Laura and Tyler that Jeff and Jackie meant business.

As for Bergen and Kurt, they decided to stop driving altogether, ditch the car, take a taxi, and accept the unfortunate two-hour time penalty before attempting the Winter Wonderland task. Bergen didn't like how Kurt had no faith in him as their driver.

Aly and Steve finished the Winter Wonderland task in first place, and they were soon followed by Laura and Tyler, Matt and Ashley, Hayley and Blair, Jeff and Jackie, Jenny and Jelani, Mike and Rochelle, and finally Bergen and Kurt.

The teams then learned they must drive to Schliersee and find their next clue by the sea. They could use their navigation system to get there, but Bergen and Kurt didn't even have their car so they had to take a train.


Once at Schliersee, it became time for the teams to complete one of two possible Detour tasks.

"Stein" required the teams to figure out how to carry 22 steins at once, working like the local waitresses who serve such heavy steins for the 16 consecutive days of Oktoberfest. The teams needed to deliver a set of steins without dropping any to receive their next clue.

"Stack" required the teams to participate in a crate-stacking competition. While the world record is apparently 49 crates, they had the difficult challenge of just stacking 15 of them. If they successfully stacked their crates, they'd earn their next clue.

Aly and Steve, Hayley and Blair, and Matt and Ashley opted to take on the "Stein" task, but Hayley and Blair -- who bickered throughout the entire leg because Hayley appeared to nag him all the time -- ended up switching because Hayley couldn't get it right.

Jeff and Jackie, Jelani and Jenny, and Laura and Tyler did the "Stack" task.

Bergen and Kurt were not shown attempting to complete either Detour task.


Aly and Steve finished the Detour in first place. They were then followed by Matt and Ashley, Jeff and Jackie, Jelani and Jenny, Hayley and Blair, Laura and Tyler, and Mike and Rochelle.

The teams were then instructed to drive to the Markus Wasmeier Museum and search for their next clue. It then became time for one Racer from each team to complete a Roadblock task.

For the Roadblock, the participants were required to woo their partner by singing a German tune, a traditional act of courtship. If the Racers forgot the words or sang off-key, they'd get water dumped on them. If they succeeded, they'd receive their next clue.

Aly opted to sing, as did Ashley, Jackie, Jenny, Laura, and Mike.

Aly and Steve finished the Roadblock task in first place. They were soon followed by Matt and Ashley, Jeff and Jackie, Jelani and Jenny, Hayley and Blair, Laura and Tyler, and Mike and Rochelle.

The teams' next set of clues set them to Lake Spitzingsee. On the shore of this popular playground, the Pit Stop awaited the teams.


Aly and Steve arrived at the Pit Stop in first place and were greeted by Phil. Phil revealed they had each won their own 2015 Ford Focus.

Matt and Ashley secured second place, and Jeff and Jackie finished in third place. Jelani and Jenny were behind them in fourth, and trailing on their heels were Hayley and Blair in fifth place. Laura and Tyler stepped on the Pit Stop mat in sixth place, followed by Mike and Rochelle in seventh.

Bergen and Kurt were not shown arriving at the Pit Stop. Instead, Phil found the pair in what appeared to be a train station and announced their elimination.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski