I still think people are making valid points about the production WANTING a U-turn to eliminate a team.
Let's take a small analysis into U-turns in previous seasons, and the placement of the U-turn board:
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From s20-s29, s29 has been the only season with a U-turn before the detour.
s29: Leg 3 - Tara and Joey u-turn Seth and Olive and they're eliminated.
Leg 6 - Everybody plans and teams up against Vanck and Ashton, and collectively U-turn them, effectively eliminating them.
Leg 8 - Brooke and Scott u-turn Liz and Michael and that coupled with a speed bump and self-driving, eliminated them.
Now delving into the seasons with u-turn boards post the detour:
s28: Leg 3 - a U-turn not even USED, so it went unaired.
Leg 10 - Everybody plans and teams up against Brodie and Kurt, and collectively U-turn them, effectively eliminating them.
s27: Leg 4 - Everybody plans and teams up against Justin and Diana, but nobody lives up to the pact except for Tiffany and Krista and the u-turn was redundant.
Leg 9 - Kelsey and Joey U-turn Tanner and Josh, and that coupled with a speed bump eliminates them.
Leg 10 - Justin and Diana u-turn Logan and Chris, but Logan and Chris survive the u-turn.
s26: Leg 1 - A u-turn on the very first leg of the race, and Mike and Rochelle u-turn Jeff and Lyda, a u-turn that actually eliminates Jeff and Lyda. In retaliation Jeff and Lyda u-turn Jeff and Jackie, but the latter had long since passed the u-turn board making the second u-turn redundant.
Leg 8 - Matt and Ashley u-turn Jelani and Jenny to eliminate their express pass, which they ended up using on the leg of expiry to bypass the u-turn regardless. In contrast, Laura and Tyler u-turn Aly and Steve, who, coupled with the speed bump and the u-turn are eliminated.
s25: Leg 5 - Shelley and Nici u-turn Keith and Whitney out of spite, and Keith and Whitney are eliminated. In retaliation, Keith and Whitney u-turn Amy and Maya, but Amy and Maya remained unaffected, rendering it redundant.
Leg 9 - Amy and Maya u-turn Adam and Bethany, perceiving them as a threat. However, Adam and Bethany avoid it due to completing a fast-forward.
s24: Leg 8 - Brendon and Rachel u-turn Dave and Connor, perceiving them as a threat. As a polite formality to survive, Dave and Connor u-turn Leo and Jamal by consent (as far as I can recall). None of the u-turned teams are eliminated.
Leg 10 - Leo and Jamal u-turn Jet and Cord, perceiving them as a threat. In vengeance for Leg 8, Caroline and Jennifer u-turn Brendon and Rachel but they are unaffected and one u-turn is redundant. Jet and cord are eliminated.
s23: Leg 5 - Tim and Danny u-turn Leo and Jamal, perceiving them as a threat. In retaliation, Leo and Jamal u-turn Brandon and Adam and this u-turn eliminated the latter.
Leg 8 - Nicole and Travis u-turn Leo and Jamal, partly out of spite and partly because of them being a threat. In contrast, Tim and Marie u-turn Nicky and Kim, who alongside with a speed bump couldn't keep up and were eliminated.
s22: Leg 5 - Pam and Winnie u-turn Joey and Meghan, to eliminate an alliance. In retaliation, Joey and Meghan u-turn Chuck and Wynona, who would have been eliminated due to the u-turn had there not been a withdrawal from the race earlier in the leg.
Leg 10 - Max and Katie and Bates and Anthony both u-turn in an attempt to eliminate Joey and Meghan and Mona and Beth's alliance, eliminating the former.
s21: Leg 3 - Rob and Kelley u-turned Gary and Will, and granted it being a blind u-turn Gary and Will reciprocated the sentiment. However, Gary and Will weren't eliminated.
Leg 9 - Jaymes and James u-turned Abbie and Ryan, in hopes of cancelling their 'double your million' prize. Trey and Lexi also u-turned Jaymes and James but the latter was unaffected and Abbie and Ryan were eliminated.
s20: Leg 8 - Art and JJ u-turn Brendon and Rachel out of spite, and consequently Brendon and Rachel u-turn Vanessa and Ralph out of spite. None of the u-turned teams were eliminated.
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Obviously there are some things to be inferred from these observations and patterns. What do you think?