Reality Bites: Amazing Race 26: Preview and Cast Bios

This season of The Amazing Race will be like no other. For the first time, they are slightly changing up the formula. There will still be teams of 2 racing around the world, however, this time, all of the couples' connections will be that they are dating. No brother/sister, mother/daughter, married, co-workers, etc. All dating couples. And to further the twist, some of the couples don't even know each other! 6 couples are pre-existing dating relationships, while the remaining 5 pairs are being set up on a "blind date" that will take them racing around the world. How's that for a twist?

We know how hard it is for couples, and not even just couples, but even family and friends to race with each other, and these people have some idea about how to work with and communicate with each other. These 5 couples who have never met will be starting from scratch. This is going to be very interesting! Will this end some relationships or will some new ones be formed? I can't wait to find out!

Our 11 dating couples will cover 35,000 miles, over 5 continents, and 8 countries.

The excitement kicks off on the 90-minute premiere, on Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00 PM EST on CBS (following the Survivor premiere).

Pre-Existing Couples

	Aly & Steve Length of Relationship: 7 months How they Met: Sochi Olympics, through teammates who were friends Aly Dudek Age: 24 Occupation: Olympic Short Track Speed Skater (Vancouver, won bronze) Hometown: Milwaukee, WI Steve Langton Age: 31 Occupation: Olympic Bobsledder (Sochi, won 2 bronze) Hometown: Boston, MA
	Harley & Jonathan Length of Relationship: 7 years How they Met: Through a mutual friend Harley Rodriguez Age: 41 Occupation: Group Fitness Trainer Hometown: New York, NY Jonathan Knight Age: 46 Occupation: Member of New Kids on the Block Hometown: New York, NY
	Jeff & Lyda Length of Relationship: 4 years (known each other 20 years) How they Met: Working for Southwest Airlines Jeff Magee Age: 57 Occupation: Airline Pilot Hometown: McCall, ID Lyda Grawn Age: 49 Occupation: Flight Attendant Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
	Lebya & C.J. Length of Relationship: 10 years (known each other 15 years) How they Met: Known each other all their lives; he used to slam her locker shut every morning in high school Lebya Simpson Age: 25 Occupation: Medical Support Assistant Hometown: Tuskegee, AL C.J. Harris Age: 26 Occupation: IT Technician Hometown: Tuskegee, AL
	Matt & Ashley Length of Relationship: 3 years (known each other 10 years) How they Met: He dated her friend/roommate first Matt Cucolo Age: 30 Occupation: Hairstylist Hometown: Scarsdale, AZ Ashley Gordon Age: 28 Occupation: Hairstylist Hometown: Scarsdale, AZ
	Mike & Rochelle Length of Relationship: 2 years How they Met: She stopped at his truck stop on the way to a roller derby event Mike Dombrowski Age: 26 Occupation: Truck Stop Manager and Pro Wrestling Promoter Hometown: Traverse City, MI Rochelle Nevedal Age: 29 Occupation: Contract Engineer Hometown: Kalkaska, MI

Blind Date Couples

	Hayley & Blair Hayeley Keel Age: 28 Occupation: Registered Nurse Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL Blair Townsend Age: 31 Occupation: Navy Physician Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
	Jacklyn & Jeffrey Jacklyn Ibarra Age: 27 Occupation: Professional Dancer Hometown: Las Vegas, NV Jeffrey Weldon Age: 26 Occupation: Sales Account Executive Hometown: Tampa, FL
	Laura & Tyler Laura Pierson Age: 29 Occupation: Talent Booker Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Tyler Adams Age: 26 Occupation: Mobile App Developer Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
	Jenny & Jelani Jenny Wu Age: 32 Occupation: Blogger and Lawyer Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Jelani Roy Age: 32 Occupation: Lawyer Hometown: New York, NY
	Bergen & Kurt Bergen Olson Age: 23 Occupation: Human Resources Project Manager Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA Kurt Jordan Belcher Age: 24 Occupation: Pageant Consultant Hometown: Butler, KY