Race Across the World viewers said the same thing after the first elimination on Wednesday (May 7).
The fifth instalment of the popular BBC show returned to our screens last month, featuring five new duos embarking on a journey from the Great Wall of China to the southernmost point of India.
This season’s contestants, stripped of smartphones and bank cards, are solely dependent on a modest budget to secure a whopping £20,000 prize pot.
As tonight’s episode kicked off, Yin and Gaz were the last team to reach the second checkpoint, just as race frontrunners Elizabeth and Letitia were gearing up for their next move.
It was soon disclosed that the third checkpoint was the Chinese city of Shangri-La, with the last duo to arrive facing elimination, reports Surrey Live.
The teams had to navigate through southwest China, ascending from the tropical coastline to the foothills of the towering Himalayas.
They could either venture north through the wild beauty of Guangdong province and its newly constructed ecosystems or divert west into Yunnan province, making use of the region’s top transport hubs. However, this would mean travelling with the millions of tourists who flock there annually.
Elizabeth and Letitia were taken aback to discover that Fin and Sioned had managed to close a six-hour gap and join them at the train station heading north.
In a twist of fate, the race leaders missed their pre-booked night train due to a hotel blunder and had to wait until morning to travel.
As other competitors edged towards the third checkpoint, Yin and Gaz were hit with a catastrophic blow while on a long-haul train to Maoming. A co-passenger disclosed that they were, to their horror, actually travelling in the wrong direction.
Brian and Melyvn reached Shangri-La first, with Elizabeth and Letitia hot on their heels, followed by Caroline and Tom, and then Fin and Sioned.
This turn of events spelled the end for Yin and Gaz as they became the unfortunate first duo to be eliminated from the contest. Their journey concluded in Maoming, a staggering 1,800 kilometres away from the checkpoint.
Reflecting on the experience, Gaz remarked: “It’s a bit raw now, but I do think as time goes on, we will look back at it and we will laugh about it. We were hoping it would make us stronger, and I think it has.”
Heartbroken show fans quickly flocked to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their dismay at Yin and Gaz’s premature departure, with one person writing: “Gutted for Yin and Gaz.”
Another said: “Sad to see them go, but I wish Yin and Gaz much luck and hope their friendship continues,” and yet another shared: “I’m sad they didn’t make the checkpoint.”
A fourth viewer echoed the sentiment, saying: “I am gutted for them, it’s so unfair.”
Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer