Peking Express in the Land of Dragons: Find out who left the adventure this Friday, May 8th

IN BRIEF Episode quarter-finals broadcast on May 8, route in Thailand ofAyutthaya has Rayong (~773 km). New rule : grouped teams — two pairs now share the same stops, nights and challenges. Constraint : this alliance was perceived as additional pressure, with the alternative of moving forward together or finding themselves in a duel. Elimination : the brothers Sébastien and Julien left the adventure after losing a duel against Thelma and Claire at the temple Wat Mat Tha Phut (park Suan Satarana); Sébastien expressed his disappointment at not being able to push the race further with his brother. Wedding rings The brothers won the puzzle (20 pieces) and chose to ally themselves with Thelma and Claire to form the “youth” camp, while Anthony and Anna joined forces with Frédéric and Laurent (the “old people”). Key events : carrying a foam ball on a parasol and then throwing watermelons — the latter allowed Anthony & Anna And Frédéric and Laurent to qualify directly. Tone : internal tensions and comments on leadership within the pairs, followed by an adrenaline rush for some. Semi-final : remain in contention Thelma & Claire, Anthony & Anna (father and daughter) and Frédéric and Laurent.

Friday May 8, the quarter-finals of Beijing Express broadcast on M6 plunged the candidates into the heart of the Thailand, ofAyutthaya has Rayong, for a race of approximately 773 kilometersThe episode introduced a new rule Two pairs now had to form a single team for hitchhiking, overnight stays, and challenges—a constraint that Claire described as a real source of tension. After a high-pressure stage that concluded at the temple Wat Mat Tha Phut, the brothers Sébastien and Julien were eliminated, beaten in a duel by their childhood friends Thelma and Claireleaving three pairs in contention for the semi-final.

Quick summary: the episode aired on May 8 on M6 took the teams Beijing Express in Thailand, ofAyutthaya has Rayong, for a stage of approximately 773 kilometersA new rule was imposed: two pairs now formed a single unit for hitchhiking, overnight stays, and challenges, which transformed the race strategy. After a stage marked by twists and turns and a final duel at the temple of Wat Mat Tha PhutThey are the brothers Sébastien and Julien who were eliminated, stopping their progress at the gates of the semi-final.

Itinerary and regulatory novelty

The stage connected historical and coastal Thai sites, beginning at Ayutthaya to end at Rayong, on a route nearly 773 kmThe production surprised the candidates by introducing a rule never seen before: the teams had to group themselves into pairs of twos to carry out the logistical part of the stage together — stopping, accommodation and challenges now took place in groups of four.

This change forced a rethinking of alliances and strategies: the contestants were no longer simply rivals but compelled to collaborate with another duo, creating tensions and tactical dilemmas. As one of the participants summarized, the question was no longer just about speed, but about how to move forward together without being eliminated in the final duel.

The sequence of events: missions, mistakes, and reversals

The race alternated between skill challenges and local riddles. At the temple, a puzzle mission consisting of 20 pieces allowed the brothers to secure a significant temporary victory: after this success, they chose to ally themselves with Thelma and Claireforming what the production team described as the “camp of theyoung people“. In front, Anthony and Anna have moved closer to Frédéric and Laurent, quickly nicknamed the “old“.

With the team-based rule, every hitchhiking trip, every night spent with a local, and every challenge became a collective endeavor. During a balancing act involving transporting a foam ball Under a parasol, the “youngsters” took the lead, but an unintentional detour by their driver wiped out their advantage. Later, a challenge of Watermelon throwing turned to the advantage of the “old guys”, offering them direct qualification for the next round.

Rivalry and fatigue sometimes led to frank remarks between teammates: one of the “old guys” criticized Anna’s way of doing things, accusing her of trying to control everything without necessarily mastering map reading, which fueled the tension before the spectacular comeback that he himself nicknamed “la remontada”.

The decisive duel and the elimination in Rayong

At the end of the stage, the rule for grouped teams resulted in a duel between two pairs who nevertheless came from the same initial grouping: Sébastien and Julien facing Thelma and ClaireThe showdown was decided in the race to the temple. Wat Mat Tha Phut, located in the park Suan SataranaDespite their efforts, the brothers failed to win the duel and were eliminated immediately before the semi-final.

The elimination was a tough blow for them: the older brother expressed his sorrow at not being able to push the race further and at not having taken his brother to the final, highlighting the emotional nature of this family adventure.

Which pairs will advance to the semi-finals?

At the end of this tense stage, three pairs qualified for the semi-final: Thelma and Claire (childhood friends) Anthony and Anna (the father-daughter duo) and Frédéric and Laurent (the so-called “old” friends), who made a notable comeback during the stage. Their final confrontation in Thailand promises to be close and strategic, combining complicity, experience and fighting spirit.

Learn more and regional context

For a detailed account of the elimination, an article offers a complete narrative of the episode and the eliminated duo: Read the article about the eliminated duoThe passage through the Thai coast also echoes contemporary local issues: some seaside resorts are facing environmental crises, as evidenced by a report on waste pollution affecting tourist sites near the race area (more information).

The broadcast of the program comes at a time in the region where sport and politics are also in the news: football recently saw a close confrontation between the Vietnam and the Thailand during the ASEAN Cup (match report), while geopolitical dynamics are intensifying in Southeast Asia, as evidenced by rising pressures from the China on the Cambodia for security and digital issues (read the analysis).

Furthermore, the show’s host recently made a surprising announcement regarding one of the show’s biggest editions, hinting at possible changes for future seasons (ad details).