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Sometimes, when you race around the world to win $1 million, you make a few [[DarthWiki/WhatAnIdiot stupid decisions along the way]].

!American Version
* Season 1, episode 9 has two. The first one is delivered by Team Guido: they've managed to beat Nancy and Emily to the Fast Forward, an in-game device that allows a team to skip all other tasks and proceed straight to the Pit Stop.\\
'''You'd expect:''' Team Guido to hop on the next passing cab or train to the Pit Stop to arrive there in first place with a good lead on the other teams.\\
'''Instead:''' They decide to rest in a hotel, confident that their lead is big enough to lounge around for a couple of hours.\\
'''As A Result:''' They arrive at the Pit Stop in dead last place. Yes, behind even Nancy and Emily, ''the very team they beat for the green pass''. Clearly, they'd never heard [[Literature/AesopsFables the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare]].
** [[DisqualificationInducedVictory The sole reason Team Guido wasn't eliminated is because Nancy and Emily made a worse decision]]. After failing to get the Fast Forward, they have to return to completing the usual tasks. The Detour gives them a choice between searching streets for a specially-marked private car to drive to their next destination or take a slower-moving bus to the same destination. They opt for the first choice, which while [[LuckBasedMission relying heavily on luck]], is understandable enough. Unfortunately, luck is not on their side, and they're on the verge of giving up after several minutes of fruitless searching.\\
'''You'd expect:''' Them to do what Kevin and Drew did earlier in the episode and switch choices. It isn't too hard to find a bus.\\
'''Instead:''' They give up ''entirely'' on the Detour and take a taxi to the destination.\\
'''As A Result:''' Even though they arrive ''hours'' ahead of Team Guido at the Pit Stop, they're penalized 24 hours for failing to complete the Detour, which is enough to eliminate them.
* Separated Couple Tara & Wil were by far the smartest and most well traveled team on Season 2. The only hiccup in their game was their physical skills.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' For the two to ''not'' make an alliance with the physically strongest team in the game, a team with no communication skills, no travel experience, and not that bright to boot, and drag them into the Final 3 when they probably would have been dead meat otherwise.\\
'''Instead:''' They do just that, making an unnecessary alliance with Chris & Alex, who proceed to pass them up on the run to the Finish Line, stealing the grand prize right out from under their noses.
* In Season 5, episode 9, none of the teams opt for the Fast Forward when they first see the clue, as none of them are aware of whether a team had arrived before them or not. Then, once all five teams hit the road block, Brandon and Nicole take notice of the fact that so far nobody has opted for the Fast Forward, and as a result they decide to go for it. Unfortunately, to their terror, it turns out that the Fast Forward requires you to shave your head.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That considering they already saw all five teams at the road block, they would realize that turning back would effectively require them to forfeit the leg. It's understandable that they wouldn't want their heads shaved, but it's a temporary pain to live with in relation to winning a million dollars, especially this far into the race.\\
'''Instead:''' They break down and decide against doing the Fast Forward and return to the road block, which now all other teams have already finished. This ensures them a last place finish on the leg.\\
'''Fortunately:''' It turns out to be a non-elimination leg, meaning they still dodge a bullet in the end, but they could have avoided the penalty and had a strong lead if they had just gone through with it.
* On Season 10, the Cho Bros., Erwin & Godwin, take this even further by making the "Six-Pack" Alliance with two other back of the pack teams.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The physically fit brothers to ditch the dead weight once they got into the top 6.\\
'''Instead:''' They sit around at tasks, after already finishing them, waiting for their alliance members to finish.\\
'''Unsurprisingly:''' They finish 5th.
* In Season 12, episode 8. Kynt & Vyxsin were saved by a non-elimination leg, requiring them to do an extra task in addition to the regular leg. Naturally, this would put them behind (even if they don't know the precise rankings), and when they get to the U-Turn, the only competition they've seen was Nathan & Jennifer. \\
'''You'd Expect:''' They U-Turn Nate & Jen. Even if they finished the task before Kynt & Vyxsin, they're still the safest bet to prevent the possibility of fighting to avoid last place. \\
'''Instead:''' They U-Turn Nicholas & Donald (a team that turned out to be ahead of them), based solely on their placing in previous legs. This costly mistake along with Kynt forgetting the receipts in the next task sealed their fate in that leg.
* Season 13, episode 2: The detour is a choice between a beach task and going to a shipyard to track down a specific container. Kelly & Christy choose the former, and after completing the task reread the wrong clue, which told them to find the container.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That the words "container" and "yard", the apparent lack of such things, or at least several other teams coming and going in front of them without making any effort to find a container would tip them off really quick that they might have read the wrong clue. Or hell, just realize that ''something'' is wrong and reread the clue to check.\\
'''Instead:''' Kelly & Christy look for that container in the water and on the sand, they use their hands to dig for it, they decide that all the other teams giving them weird looks and leaving are just "giving up", and the fun goes on and on and on...\\
'''Additionally:''' This is only the worst of Kelly & Christy's mistakes. They managed to make a bonehead move almost every leg.
* Season 14, episode 7. Mark & Michael have jumped from last to first and are on their way to win their first leg.\\
'''You'd Expect''': Them to just keep going and maintain their lead.\\
'''Instead''': They apparently never watched WesternAnimation/WackyRaces and [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat hide the pumps at the 2 Miles Detour to slow down anyone behind them.]]\\
'''As A Result''': They get a 30 minute penalty, alongside another one for following a cab allowing Jaime & Cara and Tammy & Victor to beat them shortly before their penalty timed out. If they had followed the cab, and not hidden the pumps they would've gotten a shorter penalty that would've allowed them first.
* Season 15, episode 6. Just shy of the pit stop, the teams are instructed to go down a tall water slide (the Leap of Faith at the Atlantis resort in Dubai). Mika has a heavy fear of heights and water, which naturally makes her afraid to go down the slide.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That even though she might be fearful, that she would just suck it up for two seconds of her life and go down the slide. Yes, fears are not an easy thing to deal with, but part of being on the race is facing fears and overcoming challenges. Plus, there are a million dollars on the line here.\\
'''Instead:''' She ''refuses to go down the slide'' despite the fact that they are still second to last and absolutely lets all her fears get the better of her, as if going down a slide requires making some sort of life sacrifice. Even after Canaan tries telling what's at stake and going so far to try ''physically forcing her down the slide,'' she still doesn't budge. They end up stuck there long enough that another team arrives, and are told if they don't go down within two minutes, the team behind them gets to move ahead.\\
'''You'd then Expect:''' That this would be her final warning and a last nudge to tell her that they have a chance to run one more leg if she just faces her fear like she is expected to. Surely she wouldn't let them get ahead ''that'' easily, right? Heck, the team behind them even ''taunts'' her, which in any situation should be a good time to let her show them who is really the boss.\\
'''Instead:''' She STILL doesn't go down the slide.\\
'''As A Result:''' Her team gets knocked down to last place and subsequently eliminated.
* Season 16, episode 9. Of the 5 teams left, Brent & Caite are in second place at the U-Turn, having the good fortune to have ''two'' strong teams behind them, each one having three first-place finishes on their track record up to that point.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' They U-Turn one of those two strong teams.\\
'''Instead:''' They U-Turn Carol & Brandy for "being rude", Carol & Brandy being arguably the ''weakest'' team out of those behind them, with not a single first place finish under their belt.\\
'''As A Result:''' Brent & Caite essentially waste their U-Turn to ''help'' their biggest rivals while shooting themselves in the foot.
* Season 20 Premiere. Misa & Maiya finally get out of last place on the second to last task and have to go to the Pit Stop. They get to the open field where it's located, but don't see the Pit Stop.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Them to check the rest of the field for Phil, who is within view.\\
'''Instead:''' They leave the field after looking forward.\\
'''As A Result:''' Joey & Danny are able to pass them and Misa & Maiya get eliminated.
* Season 22, Episode 2. Idries and Jamil have an intense fear of water and got to the detour involving going underwater.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Seeing what the detour was (dive down in snorkel gear - Pick A Pearl - or wear a diving helmet - Take a Trunk - and go underwater), the twin doctors would opt for the Take A Trunk detour.\\
'''Instead:''' The brothers attempt Pick A Pearl, let their fear overcome them, argue about taking the 6-hour penalty, attempt the Pearl detour again, then opt to switch detours.\\
'''As A Result:''' They piss away an ''hour and a half lead over two teams'' and get eliminated.
* Season 22, Episode 4. After getting horribly lost and struggling at the Detour, Jessica & John arrive at the roadblock last holding an Express Pass and see only Chuck & Wynona there.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' John to listen to Jessica and use the Express Pass, considering she wanted to use it during the leg in Indonesia because she knew they were way behind.\\
'''Instead:''' John blows her concern off again, and says that he can beat Chuck & Wynona at a ''luck-based task''.\\
'''As A Result:''' Jessica stands by and watches Chuck & Wynona check in at the Pit Stop, [[EpicFail ensuring that Jessica and John get eliminated with the Express Pass in their hands.]]
-->'''Indonesian Pit Stop Greeter''': (''AsideGlance, followed by folding over and losing it'')
-->'''Phil''': [[AsideGlance Oy vey.]]
* Season 26, Episode 2. Starting off Leg 2 in last place due to getting horribly lost in the first leg, Libby & CJ have bought tickets to get on the bullet train to Nagano. They opt to take a selfie here, a new element this season.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That they would take a quick selfie and then get on the train, keeping time in mind. Or get on the train right away.\\
'''Instead:''' They take a few seconds too long with the selfie, and the train leaves without them. Cue #[=SelfieFail=].\\
'''As A Result:''' They are eliminated at the end of the leg.
* Season 27, Episode 4. Fed up with Justin's obnoxious personality, Tanner and Josh hatch a plan to use their Express Pass at the next Detour and U-Turn Justin and Diana. Every other team in the race agrees to this plan, since Justin and Diana are also big threats in the game. However, upon arriving ahead of their targets, Tanner and Josh hit a Roadblock instead of a Detour.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Since they don't know how the rest of this leg is going to go, they would stick to the original plan and hold onto their Express Pass. This is also a relatively simple Roadblock (spotting a marked flag from an open-air plane), and Detours usually tend to take longer.\\
'''Instead:''' They use the Express Pass on the Roadblock and immediately run into an overnight equalizer afterwards. This results in Justin and Diana getting to the U-Turn in first place, ruining the plot to eliminate them.\\
'''To Be Fair:''' This leg had a pretty unusual design, having a U-Turn on a No-Rest leg. So even if the plan worked, Justin and Diana couldn’t have been eliminated anyway.
* Season 28, Episode 3. Cameron & Darius start Leg 3 in last place but are able to make up their deficit and complete the Roadblock with a safe buffer, but Darius can't find the vendor to get the clue.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Darius to talk to the vendor right next to him to at least check if it's them, since he was already there and wouldn't lose any time.\\
'''Instead:''' He checks literally everywhere except where he just was.\\
'''As A Result:''' He loses his buffer, costing him and Cameron the race.
* In Season 29, Episode 2. Shamir [[GroinAttack hurts his privates after his rappel suit gets too tight.]] Thankfully, the medical team deems him fit to continue the task.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Shamir to fight through the pain and go straight back to the task and if the pain persists or gets worse, get checked out again.\\
'''Instead:''' He hesitates for a while to go back to the task.\\
'''As A Result:''' This allows all the other teams up there to pass him. He doesn't go back up until the only team behind them (Jessie & Francesca) catch up to him. The only thing that saved him and Sara from elimination is Francesca missing a spot forcing her to repeat the task.
* Season 30, Episode 1: At a Roadblock, Shawn is having trouble with putting the word Ingólfstorg together. [[EpicFail He's actually swapped the O's]].\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Cedric to let Shawn solve the puzzle by himself.\\
'''Instead:''' Cedric shouts out loud the letters that he spelled are wrong.\\
'''As A Result:''' This gives them a 30-minute penalty, and confuses Shawn even more.
* Season 30, Episode 4: Cedric and Shawn, again. They've encountered a Speed Bump because they placed last in a non-elimination leg because during the Roadblock, Cedric got severely exhausted roaming through Morocco and they went from all the way in the lead to the bottom. Cedric's condition is not so good as a man nearing his fifties who survived three consecutive heart attacks and is the oldest competitor of the season.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Them to switch off and let Shawn take on the next Roadblock.\\
'''Instead:''' Cedric, driven by {{Pride}}, tries to be the hero and does it... a sailing challenge where his huge body easily capsizes a small sailboat over and over.\\
'''As A Result:''' Cedric exhausts himself again and the two, already slowed up by their Speed Bump penalty and a Detour, get to the Head-to-Head Competition last, and lose, getting eliminated.\\
'''Worse:''' Shawn never spoke up and let Cedric take the lead, causing him to make self-destructive moves. Cedric missed a vital check-in at Morocco because Shawn was too quiet, Cedric chose to a do a physically demanding Detour ''on top of'' the Roadblock instead of a less difficult alternative, and they didn't learn their lesson from Cedric being too big to run the friet race in letting him sail a boat they didn't realize would be too small.
* Season 31, Episode 3: Chris and Bret have a choice between two detours in the first Vietnam leg; either learn a dance routine, or fish for prawns in a restaurant.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That the two older men would know they stand no chance in the dance routine and just pick the fishing one.\\
'''Instead:''' They try to the dance routine and once they realize they stand no chance, waste time switching. This earns them last place, but luckily for them, it was a non-elimination round.
* Season 31, Episode 7: Victor and Nicole are second to vote in the U-turn vote. Rachel/Elissa had voted for Colin/ Christie because they were the most consistent team. Victor and Nicole hemmed and hawwed until Nicole suggested Rachel/Elissa because they had had a fight the previous leg. \\
'''You'd Expect:''' Victor, knowing they have a speed bump on them, would agree, especially since they know most people disliked Rachel/Elissa. \\
'''Instead:''' He goes against the suggestion and blurts out Leo/Jamal. Colin/Christie even out Rachel/Elissa's vote for them. Leo/Jamal and Becca/Floyd vote for Colin/Christie because they're the strongest team, definitively giving them the first U-turn spot. Tyler/Korey vote for Nicole/Victor because of the speed bump, leaving the decisive vote for the second spot to Chris/Brett. \\
'''As A Result:''' Chris/Brett pick Rachel/Elissa because they didn't want to hurt their friends, Leo/Jamal. Leaving Victor/Nicole's vote meaningless. Rachel/Elissa are unable to overcome the U-turn and get eliminated. Leo/Jamal who are a stronger team than Rachel/Elissa are still in the game and are mad at Victor/Nicole for U-turning them. Victor made an enemy for no reason while Leo/Jamal also now owe Chris/Brett a favor. \\
''' Even Worse:''' Leo/Jamal U-turned them as revenge as soon as they got the chance. Jamal lampshaded this once they did it saying that it was dumb to make an enemy for no reason. They managed to survive because Becca/Floyd screwed up the egg detour but they very well could have lost from the U-turn.
* Season 32, final 5. [=DeAngelo=] & Gary have reached the double U-turn first, with Riley & Maddison right behind them.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' [=DeAngelo=] & Gary to U-turn either Hung & Chee or Will & James. Both won legs and in legs they didn't win, placed pretty high. In contrast, Eswar & Aparna have only had a couple placings in the top three and have never won a leg.\\
'''Instead:''' They U-turn Eswar & Aparna.\\
'''As A Result:''' Riley & Maddison burn the second spot, Eswar & Aparna are sent packing, leaving [=DeAngelo=] & Gary free picking for the alliance to send them home in the next episode.
* Season 33, episode 1, Michael and Moe arrive at a street art based Detour, where the goal is to paste pieces of art onto a wall.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Them to quickly realize, much the other teams did, that it's a puzzle they also have to put together.\\
'''Instead:''' They randomly paste the art to the wall.\\
'''The Result:''' This puts them in a hole they can't recover from and they are eliminated, only continuing due to being brought back to replace teams due to the COVID pandemic.
* Season 33, Episode 2, the Roadblock involves a member of each team taking an underground train to search mail bins for their next clue. The trains are on 30-minute schedules, meaning the racers will have to wait for a train to arrive no matter when they find the clue.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That as soon as they find the clue, they hop on the next train that arrives.\\
'''Instead:''' Penn and Ray both assume the challenge isn't that easy, and despite finding their clue envelopes, assume it isn't the clue. Even though Anthony tells them it is, they both think he's playing with them due to how he responded to their question, and they continue to search the bins.\\
'''As A Result:''' Anthony gets on the next train while Penn and Ray continue to open letters and packages searching for the clue while keeping the official clues near them. They end up wasting a half hour when another train arrives with several other racers who all quickly find the clues and get in line for the next train, and only then is when they realize they had the clues the whole time. While neither team is eliminated due to this mistake, Penn and Ray are both chewed out by Kim and Caro for missing the obvious clues and wasting time, which set both teams back despite their lead for the leg.
* Season 34 Episode 2: Two teams make mistakes that cost them a lot of time and could have eliminated either had it not been for major luck.
** First, Quinton & Mattie begin the leg in the first group, and are told to drive to Austria and find Grünwalderhof near Innsbruck. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' That they do as instructed and drive to Austria. \\
'''Instead:''' They assume the location is still in Munich and they waste valuable time driving around the city. \\
'''Result:''' By the time they realize their mistake, all of the other teams are on their way to Innsbruck.
** Next, Rich & Dom talk several times about the instructions having them keep all parts of their outfit, including their hats, on them during the leg. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' That they do as they're told and keep every part. Heck, they even double back for a bit when they're unsure about if they have everything. \\
'''Instead:''' They go about the Detour with Dom having forgotten her hat. \\
'''Result:''' Phil tells them to go find her hat first before he could check them in. Luckily for them, it was still in the car they drove but had it been blown off while running, they likely would have been eliminated. \\
'''Fortunately:''' Tim & Rex struggled in finding the Detour clue and in the sprint to the Pit Stop, saving both teams from almost certain elimination.
* Season 34, episode 7: Michael and Marcus leave the castle the Roadblock was at.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' They remember to bring their car keys with them.\\
'''Instead:''' They forget the car keys. They discuss this over the confessional as Michael "[getting] spacey" at Roadblocks.\\
'''Result:''' They lose their lead over Aubrey and David by having to run all the way back up the hill and the castle to retrieve the keys. \\
'''Fortunately''', the Detour that comes immediately after causes an equalizer.
* Season 34, finale: The [[FinalExamFinale Final Exam Roadblock]] has teams using an electric piano to display pictures related to legs of the race.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That, considering how common of an instrument a piano is, all teams will understand that both the white and black keys would have pictures.\\
'''Instead:''' Luis and Michelle completely forget about the black keys and only worry about the white ones.\\
'''Result:''' They lose the race, finishing in third.
* Season 35, leg 6:
** Steve & Anna Leigh get U-Turned by one vote, but all the votes are kept anonymous.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' All the teams to keep their mouths shut and lie, even when the show airs there's nothing they can do about it. Mathematically speaking the minimum number of votes to get U-Turned is two, so they can't prove who lied.\\
'''Instead:''' Both Garret and Corey flat out admit to doing so as a means to gain a lead on them in front of her.\\
'''As A Result:''' They've made an enemy who has shown they're not afraid to retaliate.
** Steve & Anna Leigh get their own moment. As the U-Turned team, they have to do both sides of the detour and quickly manage to finish the Bundles part, leaving them with a safe buffer.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Even with the U-Turn, they would still do the final part of the Detour and return to the market they got the flowers from to turn in their receipts.\\
'''Instead:''' They head for the next detour without doing so.\\
'''As A Result:''' They are turned away at Bricks for not finishing and fall behind because of it.
* Season 35, leg 7: Teams are instructed to take a ferry across the river and exchange their euros for a bag of medieval coins. Andrea and Malaina board the wrong ferry.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The pair to realize the fact that they were given a few modern euro coins and that the ferry captain has not seen any other teams are cues that they are on the wrong ferry.\\
'''Instead:''' They assume they are in first and waste time attempting the roadblock. When they realize they have the wrong money, they ask the captain for ancient coins. Unsurprisingly, he has no idea what they are talking about.\\
'''As A Result:''' They fall so far behind, Phil comes out and eliminates them partway through the leg.
* Season 35, leg 8: Steve & Anna Leigh arrive at the location in Slovenia where an Express Pass is up for grabs, however they know they're in last and that several teams are within eyesight already doing the next task.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That knowing that several teams are ahead of them, that the Express Pass is most likely already taken and thus their priority is to finish the tasks quickly to at least avoid elimination.\\
'''Or At the Very Least:''' That they check to confirm that the Express Pass hasn't already been taken since there's always a sign that will say so.\\
'''Instead:''' They go ahead and climb the 1,100 steps up the ski slope, never once stopping to think if what they're doing is wrong.\\
'''As A Result:''' They only realize their mistake once they've reached the top and Steve had already gassed himself out climbing all those steps.\\
'''Fortunately:''' Morgan & Lena get lost after the Detour, giving them just enough time to catch up and avoid elimination. And if nothing else, they were at least still allowed to zipline down the slope.
* Season 35, leg 9: Robbin and Chelsea are in last due to Chelsea missing an item needed for the roadblock. As they are driving, Chelsea notices a sign mentioning the place they need to go, a series of caverns, which also happens to be at a campsite and tells Robbin this.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Robbin to at least check the place out. It's the first sign they've seen for the place so even if it's wrong, then they could most likely ask someone there where it is.\\
'''Instead:''' Robbin brushes it off due to the sign being for a campsite and not for a series of caverns and drives past it.\\
'''As A Result:''' This puts them even further behind and, even though Todd and Ashlie got lost repeatedly, cost them the race.
* Season 36, episode 3: Anthony and Bailey, when given a choice between either cooking a Columbia dish or loading up a jeep, originally pick the latter. However, upon it being harder than they were expecting, opt to switch to cooking. However, yet again, they realize that cooking will be harder than they think.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Them to tough it out. At this point, if they switch again, they're doomed.\\
'''Instead:''' They switch back to the jeep and then, after realizing just how complex the jeep challenge is, switch ''back'' to cooking, sticking with it this time.\\
'''Predictably:''' They come in last, sending them out of the race.
* Season 36, episode 5: Two of these:
** Rod and Leticia are trying to navigate to the detour. Leticia is taking a bit of time to figure out directions.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Rod to wait for his wife to give him directions.\\
'''Instead:''' He makes a random turn out of impatience.\\
'''The Result:''' They end up in the mountains. \\
'''You'd NOW Expect:''' Rod would stop the car and try to figure things out.\\
'''Instead:''' They keep driving while fighting even though they agree they're lost.\\
'''As A Result:''' They lose a lot of time and drop into 5th.
** Karishma & Kishori are racing for last against Derek & Shelisa with only the Detour remaining. The two choices are either performing in a park for money or going up a rock climbing wall. Kishori is somewhat afraid of heights.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' They'd do the first part since they're conventionally attractive young women, which these tasks usually benefit and they could most likely beat the older couple in a footrace if it came down to it.\\
'''Instead:''' They rock climb despite Kishori's fears.\\
'''As A Result:''' They struggle and can't make up the deficit, sending them home.
!Australia Version
* In Australia Season 4, Sid & Ash manage to catch up after their Speed Bump, and are driving right next to Femi & Nick.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Since the rules state you get a penalty for speeding, they would just bear it since they still have a safe buffer in front of other teams. Or if Femi & Nick are going slow enough, cut them off without going over.\\
'''Instead:''' They cut off Femi & Nick and proceed to floor it despite knowing the rule against speeding. They end up with a 1 hour penalty and get eliminated.
* In season 5 of the Amazing Race Australia, Mums Jude & Shannon were barely ahead of Power Couple Holly & Dolor by the time both teams completed the final task on Leg 2. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Jude & Shannon to carry their backpacks before checking in. \\
'''Instead:''' Both failed to do so, as Beau tells Jude & Shannon that they can’t check in without their backpacks. \\
'''The Result:''' Holly & Dolor finish ahead and check in, with their backpacks. Thankfully, it turned out to be a non-elimination leg.
* Season 5 (Australia), Episode 3: After successfully finishing the truck wheel challenge, Jordan & Violeta headed off to polish the solar panels at the Detour challenge. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' The team to grab their bags before setting off during the Detour. \\
'''Instead:''' Both set off without their bags without a second thought. They didn’t even realise that until they were close to the solar panels, so they had to do a U-Turn of their own to get them.
* Season 5 (Australia), Episode 4: Finishing the Pizza Delivery Detour on Leg 4, Dwes & Katherine headed to the next challenge. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' The duo to wait for the shuttle bus and make their way to the challenge with it. \\
'''Instead:''' They decide to set on foot, then ask for a passing car to get there. \\
'''The Result:''' They incur a 10 minute penalty, allowing Holly & Dolor to check in ahead of them.
* Season 5 (Australia), Episode 16: Arriving at the Sweets Detour, Dolor is notably hesitant in wanting to lick chocolate to get the clue. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Dolor to just help Holly out and lick the chocolate. Surely he can suck it up for this Detour, right? \\
'''Instead:''' Dolor gives an ultimatum to Holly in either making her lick the rest of the chocolate for the clue or do the other Detour, which involves building a whiskey barrel. Even after Holly pleaded to him to just lick the chocolate. \\
'''The Result:''' Also partly due to timewasting in trying to find Chilli’s house (which actually involved a farmhouse where a goat lived instead of a person's home), Brendon and Jackson were eventually able to catch up to them at the Detour and subsequently overtake Holly and Dolor, ultimately eliminating the Power Couple from the race.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode [=1B=]: Vegan Warriors Bren & Anja are already in a bad position as they arrived later to the Detour, thus ensuring a penalty. It gets even worse for them when they encounter a task involving goat hides. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' That knowing they're in a bad position already and that the race is all about facing fears, that they suck it up and get the task done, it's not like they were slaughtering the goats or were forced to eat the meat. \\
'''Instead:''' They put their veganism ahead of surviving the race, and elect to take ''another'' penalty. \\
'''The Result:''' Every other team finishes and they become the first team in their group out of the race.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 4: Sam & Alex initially made up for some lost ground from the Archery challenge by successfully reciting the poem to Poseidon in one attempt. Then they come across the Detour, and opted for Step Up where they need to dress up and recite the Greek Soldier movements. However, they notice that several teams are there attempting Step Up. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Sam & Alex to stay patient and attempt their choice. \\
'''Instead:''' Spooked by the number of teams taking part, they switch to Step Out, which involves building some sandals and hoping to get the okay from the inspector. After two failed attempts, they return to Step Up, acknowledging that they should’ve stuck with that detour in hindsight. \\
'''Result:''' While they finish their Detour successfully, they ultimately finished in last place on that leg and got eliminated because of their flip-flopping.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 8: On an error similar to Jude and Shannon, Chelsea and Jamus are the fourth team to arrive at the pit stop. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' For the both of them to carry their backpacks as they check in, since it is in the rules. Even Jodie and Claire know this. \\
'''Instead:''' Chelsea insisted to Jamus that they don’t need to bring them. \\
'''The Result:''' Fill-in host Scott Tweedie reminds them of their missing backpacks, forcing Chelsea and Jamus to go on a trek to find their car. \\
'''Fortunately''' for them, they found their bags in the car, and managed to avoid being eliminated by being the second-to-last team to check in.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 9: Mori is attempting the jetcar challenge, which involves him doing the figure eight and two doughnuts in 90 seconds. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Mori to get the stunt done properly. He does so with the Figure Eight… \\
'''Instead:''' …but flounders with the doughnuts, getting four instead of two the first time. Then he got three the second time. [[RuleOfThree The third time]], [[SubvertedTrope he only did one doughnut!]] \\
'''The Result:''' Every team behind managed to overtake Pako and Mori during Mori’s misadventure with the challenge. Mori did eventually get it right the fourth try, but the team fell to last place. '''Fortunately''', like Chelsea and Jamus, they managed to be the second-to-last team to check in.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 12: Chelsea & Jamus managed to get a head start on the competition this leg, by successfully cooking ten cheese arepas and getting the approval of the judge on the first attempt. That said, they need to transport those to the school. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Chelsea & Jamus to focus on the task at hand. \\
'''Instead:''' Chelsea & Jamus decide to hand some of the arepas to the children along the way. While a certainly kind gesture… \\
'''The Result:''' …by the time they realised what they’ve done, they only have six of them to give the school. The charity worker subsequently forces them to make the arepas again, pushing them down to last place. \\
'''Fortunately:''' After doing the challenge properly the second time, they managed to recover reasonably well with the fruit selling and salsa challenges and be the fifth team to check in.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 13: Pako & Mori complete the Cashew challenge, and after Mori completes the roadblock, they learn that they need to book a hotel room for the night prior to the next challenge at the Belize Zoo. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Either Pako or Mori to have grabbed the envelope next to the fireplace prior to leaving the cashew challenge. \\
'''Instead:''' They missed the envelope and don’t realise until after clearing the roadblock, so they ultimately end up sharing a room with Flick & Gabby for the night. At least there was a heartwarming moment in it, as the teams treated it as if it was a sleepover.
* Also from the same episode, Chelsea & Jamus do the Heat Detour, which involves them having to eat 25 hot pies. The catch is that they need to each have one at a time, and the lid be closed during the interval, which is something that Heath & Toni have done. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Both Chelsea & Jamus to follow the rules of the Detour. \\
'''Instead:''' They failed to realise the rules until 14 pies in. \\
'''Result:''' They subsequently had to get another pot with 25 pies and start over.
* Season 6 (Australia), Episode 19: In a heartbreaking example, Pako and Mori arrive at the Optus Stadium, and their next challenge involves them having to memorise the six Noongar seasons upside down. Unfortunately, Mori has vertigo. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Mori to man up and do the challenge. Even Pako points out that they’ve come out of the closet, which the latter considered a greater fear, in part of potentially being abandoned by their families, so it wouldn’t hurt for Mori to face his fear. \\
'''Instead:''' Despite his husband’s encouragements, along with Angel and Frankie consoling him, Mori lets his phobia get the better of him, and wants to avoid the one challenge outright. \\
'''The Result:''' Angel & Frankie and Kelly & Georgia manage to catch up during Mori’s breakdown, with the couple deciding to take a time penalty. [[HopeSpot Despite the time penalty being notably halved]], [[YankTheDogsChain Angel & Frankie managed to check in ahead of them with seconds to spare, eliminating the Hubbies.]]
* Celebrity Edition, Episode 3 is a big What an Idiot moment for both Jana and Cor:
** Cor manages to clear the Tuk Tuk Driving Roadblock after a few attempts. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Cor to make sure he has every bag on him before leaving. \\
'''Instead:''' He forgets the bum bag, forcing him and Jana to turn back to the area, fortunately retrieving said bag. An innocent and young mistake, but it’s nothing compared to later that same leg…
** Jana and Cor manage to find the blue banana after a few attempts compared to George and Pam. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Both of them to leave with their bags, especially given that Cor learned from his mistake. \\
'''Instead:''' ''Both of them set off without their backpacks!'' This time, however, it was on Jana and for what it’s worth she admitted it was her fault. \\
'''Fortunately:''' They managed to still check in ahead of George and Pam despite those blunders, even though it was a pre-determined non elimination leg.
* Celebrity Edition, Episode 10: Arriving first at the Detour, Harry and Teddy choose Save the Mangroves. The conservationist informs each team to collect 36 mangrove seeds, and put six of them each in a pot. \\
'''You’d Expect:''' Harry and Teddy to remember the amount of seeds they need to get. \\
'''Instead:''' Harry and Teddy settle on getting ''24'' seeds. \\
'''Result:''' The judge informs Harry and Teddy that they don’t have enough seeds and they need to get more, costing them their lead.

!Canadian Version
* In Canada Season 3, Hamilton & Michaela get an Express Pass and later on that same leg they choose a dancing Detour. They encounter a problem, the dance requires them to wear rather revealing outfits and Hamilton is transgender and insecure of his body. \\
'''You'd Expect:''' Since they had a safe buffer in front of the other teams, they would switch Detours and recite a Spanish poem instead. \\
'''Instead:''' They rush to judgment and use their Express Pass. It bites them hard to legs later when Hamilton forgets their passport and they struggle on both sides of the Detour which costs them the race.