The Amazing Race returns to its international format where teams of two will travel to exotic locations, spanning five continents, with stops in the Middle East, Moscow and Sicily, to name a few. The 11 teams, including a Pizza Hut manager, a dentist, a science teacher, a children's minister, a retired physician and a valet, will compete against one another in a race around the world for a $1 million prize. The race begins in Denver, Colorado when teams quickly jet off to their first location, Sao Paulo, Brazil where, upon landing, they must venture deep into the heart of the city to find their next clue at the Hotel Unique. Almost immediately, teams make their way by foot to Viaduto Santa Ifigenia, a pedestrian footbridge overlooking the highway and the Vale do Anhangabuau. One team struggles to locate the clue box, while other teams seem to find it with ease. At the bridge, teams are faced with their first detour and must choose between finding a local motorcycle shop, where they will have to assemble a motorcycle from scratch, or soar high above the city of San Paolo in a helicopter in order to locate a specific building where they will find their next clue. The teams: Name: BJ AVERELL (Male) Occupation: Online Tutor Age: 26 Hometown: Los Angeles Name: TYLER MACNIVEN Occupation: Filmmaker Age: 25 Hometown: San Francisco Relationship: BEST FRIENDS Name: SCOTT BRAGINTON-SMITH Occupation: Sales Age: 41 Hometown: West Harwich, Mass. Name: JOHN LOWE Occupation: Wealth Manager Age: 38 Hometown: Dorchester, Mass. Relationship: LIFE-LONG FRIENDS Name: YOLANDA BROWN-MOORE Occupation: Science Teacher Age: 27 Hometown: Chicago Name: RAY WHITTY Occupation: Attorney Age: 31 Hometown: Chicago Relationship: DATING Name: MONICA CAYCE Occupation: Student Age: 23 Hometown: Fayetteville, Ark. Name: JOSEPH MEADOWS Occupation: Homebuilder Age: 23 Hometown: Fort Smith, Ark. Relationship: DATING Name: DESIREE CIFRE Occupation: Writer Age: 24 Hometown: New York Name: WANDA LOPEZ-ROCHFORD Occupation: Corporate Trainer Age: 44 Hometown: Smyrna, Ga. Relationship: MOTHER AND DAUGHTER Name: MICHELLE GARNER Occupation: Homemaker Age: 36 Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss. Name: LAKE GARNER Occupation: Dentist Age: 37 Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss. Relationship: MARRIED PARENTS Name: JONI GLAZE Occupation: Children's Minister Age: 44 Hometown: Katy, Texas Name: LISA HINDS Occupation: Realtor-Artist Age: 48 Hometown: Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Relationship: SISTERS Name: BARRY LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Physician Age: 63 Hometown: Silverthorne, Colo. Name: FRAN LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Accountant Age: 61 Hometown: Silverthorne, Colo. Relationship: MARRIED 40 YEARS Name: JEREMY RYAN Occupation: Valet Age: 26 Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Name: ERIC SANCHEZ Occupation: Waiter Age: 27 Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Relationship: FRIENDS Name: DAVID SPIKER Occupation: Musician Age: 30 Hometown: Manhattan, Kan. Name: LORI WILLEMS Occupation: Pizza Hut Manager Age: 25 Hometown: Manhattan, Kan. Relationship: DATING Name: DANI TORCHIO Occupation: Recent College Graduate Age: 22 Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y. Name: DANIELLE TURNER Occupation: Recent College Graduate Age: 22 Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y. Relationship: CHILDHOOD FRIENDS The last ones to arrive were... John and Scott and they were eliminated from the race.

The Teams learn quickly about the toll this Race has on the mind and body. One Racer breaks into tears after facing an extreme fear of heights while repelling down a 400-foot building. While navigating through the picturesque land of Brazil, frustration gets the better of one racer who is lost and has trouble operating a manual transmission. During an intense challenge, some teams are neck and neck as they scale a waterfall while others are left watching as other teams pass them by.

The teams travel to Moscow where Wanda participates in a roadblock involving something she is deathly afraid of while daughter Desiree looks on. The last to the mat is... Dave and Lisa but to their relief the leg is not over, they are not eliminated, and they keep racing.

Computers crash at a foreign airport leaving several teams stranded without a flight and allowing a few lucky teams to surge ahead. Teams drive themselves to the Bavaria Film Studios in Munich, Germany and choose between two detour options. One option allows teams to relieve their frustrations and tensions from the stress of the Race by bashing bottles over each others’ heads. The last team to the mat was.... Dave and Lori but Phil lets them know that this leg of the race is not over yet, they are not eliminated, and they need to keep racing

The teams travel to Italy and must reconstruct broken statues to find a clue. They must also locate a marked item of clothing among 2400 pieces of laundry during a Detour. One pair gets lost on their way to a Roadblock and ends up at the pit stop instead. The last ones to the mat were... Danielle and Dani and they were eliminated from the race.

While racing through the ancient streets of Sicily, teams choose between a detour where they must either sell four kilograms of small Italian fish in a busy open-air market, or carry a 32-pound swordfish one-third of a mile through a congested part of the city in order to receive their next clue. Teams are also faced with a roadblock that requires one team member to score a goal in the popular Italian sport of Kayak Polo while competing against a team of professional players. Last to arrive were... David and Lori, and they were eliminated from The Race.

While Racing through Greece, teams return to ancient times and compete in Olympic games that include a grueling bout in the mud with a Greek wrestler. During a roadblock, teams face a 240-foot bungee jump off the Corinth Canal bridge and one racer becomes paralyzed with fear. Several teams make a crucial mistake when they fail to follow the clue's directions correctly. Meanwhile, a lack of focus and confusion plagues several teams who get lost while driving, and their frustration fuels an emotional breakdown for one team. The last team to the Mat was... Lake and Michelle, and they were eliminated from the game.

Right out of the Pit Stop, one Team erupts into a war of words and insults. Then, Teams encounter a true roadblock on the Race when they come across a flooded road allowing them a chance for a unique interaction with a kind local who comes to their rescue. Meanwhile, a lonely duo entertains themselves by invoking the ghosts of previously eliminated teams, doing hilarious impersonations of each to help pass the time. The last team to arrive was BJ & Tyler, though this leg was a non-elimination round.

A fierce rivalry between two teams starts to heat up when one duo tells the other that at the next opportunity to use the Yield, they will use it against them. Teams travel to Australia and must ride a bicycle built for two in order to receive their next clue. However, what should have been a fun three-mile bike ride turns into a heated argument for one team. Meanwhile, on the drive to the airport, another team picks up a hitchhiker and takes some time to conduct international relations. The last team to arrive was Fran & Berry They have been eliminated.

Teams fly to Darwin, Australia and must wade through a crocodile-infested pool to receive their next clue. The Racers also perform an intense Roadblock which requires one teammate to perform a tandem skydive with a trained professional. This entire leg is full of foot races which culminate with a three-way sprint to the Pit Stop. Meanwhile, Teams continue to play head games with each other and one Duo takes the scheming a step further when they cancel all the cabs waiting for the remaining Teams.

While racing through Bangkok, Teams face a Roadblock where they must prepare a feast for hundreds of sacred monkeys. In Thailand, teams make their way to an ancient temple where they find their next clue. Two Teams race for the Fast Forward and both are greeted with a gut-wrenching challenge aptly named Insect Delight. Despite a teammate's encouragement, a physically demanding challenge proves to be too much for one Racer who breaks down.

As the Teams race through Japan, they quickly learn that little mistakes can cost big time when there are only three teams left and the finish line is within reach. The last two legs of the Race around the world prove both mentally and physically grueling and it is a tight contest until the very end. The winners of the Amazing Race 9 are: Tyler & BJ. The fratboys came in second, and the third place was for Ray & Jolanda