The 55 teams in the AXN Challenge burst away from the start at the Tai Po Waterfall Park yesterday. The gruelling race took competitors through stretches of rugged terrain in the SAR's suburbs and into the bustling city, ending in darkness at the Avenue of the Stars on Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Competitors endured a gruelling programme of running, orienteering, hiking, kayaking, swimming, and abseiling, while coping with mental challenges and several mystery tests. The Protrek team won in five hours, 40 minutes and 40 seconds - slower than expected. 'They had to read maps all through the course and that took up a lot of time,' said a race official.