World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji

Bear Grylls welcomes 66 teams, who descend upon the island nation of Fiji in an attempt to conquer the World's Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji.  On day one, racing teams face challenging ocean navigation and a steep mountain trek. Both elite and rookie teams race side by side as the intense tropical heat threatens to end one team’s race.

As the race continues through the first night, an athlete struggling with heat exhaustion manages to stay in the race. Lead teams paddle back to Viti Levu, as novice teams continue to struggle on the island trek. The bulk of the teams return to Viti Levu on Day 2, but a fierce tropical storm makes portions of the course too dangerous, forcing a critical decision to be made by Race Management.

The remaining teams prepare to resume racing, after the course was shutdown due to torrential rain. When weather breaks, the front teams look to build upon their lead, as they drive hard to Camp 2. Meanwhile, the bulk of the teams bike through ruggid terrain, as they head towards Camp 1. Fatigue, illness and poor decision-making slow the back teams down as the Day 3 cutoff looms.

All of the lead teams are equalized as they spend the night waiting for the river rafting to open, giving hope to teams chasing Team New Zealand. The teams further behind in the race build Bilibili rafts and float downstream. Team Out There fights to regain their spot among the leaders. One team faces a mechanical breakdown on the bikes that threatens to take them out of the competition.

As the lead teams approach the daunting Vuwa Falls rope climb, one team makes a bold move to try and distance themselves from the others, but will it pay off? Mid pack and slower teams endure extreme mud while mountain biking, while others navigate the white-water rapid section of the course. A biking accident threatens the future of one team’s race.

After suffering a potentially serious injury, one team must backtrack to seek medical attention for a fallen teammate. Lead teams suffer through the river pools above Vuwa Falls, but eventually reach the paddle board section of Leg 4. A veteran team falls from the leaders as one teammate is diagnosed with a severe case of hypothermia, putting their entire race in jeopardy.