ON YOUR MARKS

Here’s a look at who’s competing in The Amazing Race Canada this summer — and how far they might get:

MAX ALTAMURO, 28, AND ELIAS THEODOROU, 26; Dating for five months From: Toronto

Resume: Elias is tough, but tender: The mixed-martial-arts fighter has appeared on the cover of romance novels. Max, his girlfriend of five months, is equally stubborn.

Snap decision: He has a giant head, but Max’s fave place to travel is the less-than-challenging Disneyland and she would use her winnings to buy a puppy ... and a Chanel purse.

Pack position: Middle GINO, 28, AND JESSE, 25, MONTANI; Brothers From: Hamilton

Resume: These nice Italian boys credit their single mom for raising them right and teaching them to rely on family. They’re no strangers to hard work, as Jesse toils in the steel mill and Gino puts in time driving a Zamboni as a city worker.

Snap decision: Athletic, smart (Gino has a degree in Geography; Jesse attended McMaster University) and linked by blood: That is a hard combo to beat.

Pack position: Front HAMILTON ELLIOT, 19, AND MICHAELIA DREVER, 19; newly engaged From: Centreville, N.S.

Resume: They started as best female friends, but now the teens are romantically involved. Michaelia has been supportive of Hamilton since he started transitioning to male from female six years ago.

Snap decision: The well-travelled pair have youth on their side, and since they were both cadets, they know how to power through tasks.

Pack position: Front DANA HAYWARD, 23, AND AMANDA JOHNSTON, 23; friends and co-workers From: St. John’s, N.L.

Resume: They were buddies before joining the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and have remained inseparable during their deployment in the remote Labrador City. What do they do for fun? Target shooting!

Snap decision: Their physical conditioning, people skills and “being mentally tough” should stand the look-alike BFFs in good stead.

Pack position: Middle NIC LA MONACA, 22, AND SABRINA MERCURI, 32; dating From: Montreal

Resume: They moved back to Canada from Italy (where Nic played soccer for a living) separately, and are now planning a life together after dating for a year.

Snap decision: The two look stellar on paper — they both speak four languages and have lived abroad — but then up pops their shared phobia (water), Sabrina’s pet peeve about her partner: “Nic’s spurts of road rage” and their love of “a good argument.” These two might self-destruct in three, two, one ...

Pack position: Back OPE, 46, AND SIMI, 21, FAGBONGBE; father and daughter From: Burnaby, B.C.

Resume: The family immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2006. Ope took what jobs he could to establish the family while Simi enrolled in drama classes to overcome shyness. Now she’s taking on law school.

Snap decision: These two will run the Race

hard.

Pack position: Middle DUJEAN WILLIAMS, 25, AND LEILANI ROSS, 24; exes turned friends From: Toronto

Resume: He’s laid back; she’s ultra-organized. While opposites attract, they can also complement each other’s character traits to fill in the blanks, which looks to be what happens with this pair of professional dancers.

Snap decision: “I’m ruthless. That’s who I am,” Dujean charmingly explains in their promo video. Factor in Leilani’s tendency to tick the boxes and their physicality, and we’ve got ourselves some contenders.

Pack position: Front

BRENT, 25, AND SEAN, 28, SWEENEY; brothers

From: Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S. Resume: The brothers are both studying design in Toronto, but they say they’re going to rely on that East Coast charm to help them get by in the Race. That, and their trained eyes for detail to make sure they read those clues right.

Snap decision: Anyone who lists “Pinot Grigio” as their good-luck charm is worth cheering for. Cheers!

Pack position: Middle

SUSAN HAYRE, 38, AND SHARNJIT GILL, 39; friends and co-workers

From: Vancouver Resume: The pair didn’t warm up to each other initially, but being women working in the male-dominated world of corrections brought them together. “I am the calm to her storm,” as Susan puts it. Straight-talking Sharnjit doesn’t agree.

Snap decision: They both cop to being “bossy,” which can derail teamwork in a flash.

Pack position: Back NICK FOTI, 35, AND MATT GIUNTA, 33; friends and co-workers From: Newmarket and Stouffville, Ont.

Resume: While their day jobs are run-of-themill — Nick’s an elementary school teacher; Matt is a real-estate agent — as their alter egos Asylum & Burns, these two are a powerhouse tag team of pro wrestlers.

Snap decision: Pretend or not, wrestlers are generally in good shape, and these two have logged plenty of travel miles as their alter egos. On the other hand, that’s a whole lot of man to manoeuvre around the Race.

Pack position: Middle NEIL, 62, AND KRISTIN, 31, LUMSDEN; father and daughter From: Burlington, Ont., and Toronto

Resume: Neil has proved his mettle on the gridiron, winning three Grey Cups as a running back with the Edmonton Eskimos. Kristin’s photographic memory would be an amazing asset if they make it to the final three, which usually features a “remember when?” challenge.

Snap decision: The father-daughter team ‘fess up to having an issue with communication ... and stubbornness. Not a good combo.

Pack position: Back BRIAN, 46, AND CYNTHIA, 41, BOYD married From: Winnipeg

Resume: The police officers have been married for 16 years, and pride themselves on making the most of any situation. But they also realize that they can’t patrol everything: “uncontrollable circumstances” are their biggest fear on the Race, Cynthia says.

Snap decision: This season’s crop of contestants is tipped to the younger set, and while experience comes with age, it won’t win you a foot race.

Pack position: Back