​APIA, Samoa – For Faumuinā Maryann Penn, lining up for her first full marathon at the 8th Sāmoa International Marathon on 4 July brings together the culmination of a journey that began on the athletics track at St Mary's College, Vaimoso.

And on Saturday 4 July, Maryann will run her first marathon alongside twin sister, Faumuinā Eleanor Penn. They are the only Sāmoan women in this year's marathon. They are the first set of twins to run a marathon in the country, a record that will probably last a long time. 

Another staggering record - Maryann will run the marathon on Saturday only six days after completing her second half-marathon on Sunday 28 June. That was the Wellington Half-marathon.  

Maryann and Eleanor first discovered their love of running during their school years, competing in the 400m and 800m events. While neither considered themselves elite athletes, both developed a passion for endurance running and the discipline that sport brings.

As she entered her senior years at college, Maryann made the difficult decision to step away from sport and focus on her academic ambitions. The sacrifice paid off. In 2017, she was awarded Dux of St Mary's College and received a scholarship to New Zealand to study Building Science at Victoria University of Wellington.

Since then, Maryann has built an impressive professional career. She has worked as an engineer with the Land Transport Authority and later as an Assistant Project Manager with RPS. She is currently completing a Master of Architectural Science (Project Management) at Victoria University of Wellington under a prestigious Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.

For a time, she thought her academic commitments might prevent her from participating in the Samoa International Marathon. However, with her degree concluding at the end of June and a return home to Samoa approaching, the timing aligned perfectly.

Although she had considered pursuing sports such in Powerlifting or CrossFit, Maryann chose to return to running as a way to stay active. That decision reignited a passion that had been dormant for years.

In June 2025, she completed her first half marathon in Wellington, an experience that rekindled her love for the sport and motivated her to pursue even greater challenges. She soon encouraged both her partner and her twin sister to join her in the Auckland Half Marathon later that year.

Since then, she has steadily built towards her first marathon by competing in events throughout New Zealand, including the Wellington Round the Bays 8.8km, the WHAC Honest 10 Run, and the Wellington Half Marathon.

Sharing the marathon journey with her twin sister makes the experience even more meaningful. 

"Being a twin has always been both a challenge and a blessing," she says. "We naturally push each other in many aspects of life, from our career paths to our fitness journeys, and that shared drive has brought us to this point."

As the only Sāmoan women entered in this year's marathon, the Penn sisters are helping to break new ground and inspire others to embrace endurance sport.

For Maryann, the race is about much more than completing 42.2 kilometres.

"Running this marathon feels like a full-circle moment for me. It is not only a personal milestone but also an opportunity to represent where we come from and to inspire others, especially young people and fellow twins, to challenge themselves and pursue goals that once felt out of reach."

On 4 July, when the Penn sisters stand together on the marathon start line, they will carry with them a track record of of preparation, dedication and perseverance.

More than that, they also carry the pride of family, community and country.


​END

APIA, SĀMOA – Adam is preparing to run his very first marathon at the 8th Sāmoa International Marathon, marking a major personal challenge in what is already a big year as he celebrates turning 40.

Originally from Australia, Adam and his family have made Sāmoa home, happily living and working here while becoming familiar faces at Sāmoa Events races and many other events over the past two years.

Despite his growing love for running, Adam admits he had never previously been drawn to the marathon distance.
“I’ve never had an interest in running a marathon before,” he said. “However, after seeing the unique experience of the Sāmoa International Marathon when I ran the 10 km with Natalie last year, it sparked the idea of running the marathon here.”

His preparation has included only two half marathons: one last year and another in the lead-up to the marathon as a dress rehearsal. Earlier this month, Adam and Natalie Moore both completed the Lalomanu Half Marathon, giving them another strong test before race day.
​
On marathon day, Natalie will play a key role in Adam’s journey. Every full marathon runner in the Sāmoa International Marathon is accompanied by their own support vehicle, and Natalie has chosen to give up her own goal of running the half-marathon so she can support Adam from start to finish.

“Yes, Nat has decided to sacrifice her ambition of running the half-marathon on the day to support me,” Adam said. “It’ll be Nat and at least one of my kids in the vehicle to support me and support her in that role.”

Adam’s sporting background began in a country town in Australia, where sport was a major part of community life.
“Sport was the main thing to do and it produced a lot of good sportsmen,” he said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of those.”

He played a wide range of sports growing up, including tennis, soccer, rugby league and Australian rules football. But like many adults, full-time work changed the rhythm of sport in his life.
​
“Getting my first full-time job ruined my sporting career,” he joked.Since then, Adam moved between different sports before discovering a love of running in Sāmoa. That journey began with the Perimeter Relay and has now led him to the start line of his first full marathon.

For Adam, the 42.2 km challenge is more than just a race. It is a celebration of family, fitness, life in Sāmoa and taking on something that once felt unlikely.
​
With Natalie and his children supporting him on the road, Adam will set out on 4 July hoping to complete his first marathon in the country that helped inspire him to run.

​END

Runner Profile
Sāmoa International Marathon 

APIA, SĀMOA - Faumuinā Eleanor Penn is taking on her first full marathon at the 8th Sāmoa International Marathon, inspired by a desire to challenge herself while proudly representing her aiga, villages, church community and beloved Samoa.
Eleanor, the youngest of seven siblings, currently cares for her father while balancing training, church commitments, work, and family obligations. She works as a Representative for Downer and serves as a Mass Coordinator and collector at St. Luke’s Parish, Flat Bush, in Auckland, NZ.

On the 4th of July, she will return home to tackle the marathon distance alongside her twin sister, Faumuinā Maryann Penn. This is one of the most inspiring stories in this year’s race.

As the only Sāmoan women entrants in the marathon, the sisters are a powerful example of courage, determination and leadership for Sāmoan women everywhere.

A former Sports Prefect leader at St Mary’s College, Vaimoso, Eleanor has always enjoyed an active lifestyle. She competed in athletics during her school years in the 400m and 800m, and today enjoys gym training and hiking Mt Vaea.

In 2025, she completed the Auckland Half Marathon “Run The City” and placed 2 nd in the Project 56 Final Week Transformation
Challenge in South Auckland.

Eleanor says her greatest motivation is to inspire young people, particularly her nephew Max Penn, who first introduced her to the Sāmoa International Marathon.

Eleanor sees the race as an opportunity to demonstrate determination, resilience and Sāmoan pride, and as a pathway for young people to develop healthy lifestyles.

On race day, Eleanor will carry with her the support of her mother, Unasa Florestina Penn, her family, and the many communities that have shaped her life. These include her villages of Vaimoso, Alafua, Lepea, Iva and Siufaga, Savai'i, as well as her church communities of St Luke's Parish, Flat Bush, St Therese of Lisieux, Vaimoso, and the Vailoa Community SMSM Sisters. She also acknowledges the encouragement of Sr Johanna Penn-Keil, Fr Benedict Francis and Sr Jane O'Carroll (SM) throughout her journey.
​END

Samasoni Nimarota never planned to run a marathon. Yet in 2016 he completed the inaugural Sāmoa International Marathon in Savai'i with no training and no preparation, creating one of the event's most memorable stories.

That year, only two runners were officially entered in the marathon: Bobby Caerni and Daniel Afoa. Bobby went on to win the race, the very first marathon held in Savai’i.

With the race starting at 4:00 am, Daniel Afoa asked Sam to accompany him on the long and dark stretch between the lava fields and Pu'apua village.
​
While the one police vehicle followed the leader, Bobby, Sam stayed by Daniel’s side. What started as a simple gesture turned into a full marathon—Sam kept running all the way to the finish.

Despite having no long-distance training, Sam completed the race in 4 hours, 39 minutes, and 49 seconds—an impressive time that still ranks 14th out of the 45 runners who have completed the Sāmoa marathon since 2016. He finished just 15 minutes behind inaugural champion Bobby Caerni despite having done no marathon training. 

Sam’s strong general fitness helped him. He was already an excellent swimmer and a regular competitor in triathlon events and trail races in Apia. Still, the marathon took its toll—bad blisters on his feet slowed him down significantly.

Reflecting on the race afterwards, Sam said, “I had no plan to run the marathon. I was just keeping Daniel company through the dark stretch between the lava field and Pu’apua. But once the sun came up, I kept going. I wanted to finish.”

Sam and Daniel remain the last local runners to run a marathon in Sāmoa. 

What began as a simple act of support for a friend became a marathon finish that still ranks among the best performances in the event's history. Nearly a decade later, Sam's unexpected run remains one of the great stories of the Sāmoa International Marathon.

The legend continues.


​END

In August 2025 we were back again for our second Tour of Samoa. It felt good to be rolling along, windows open, down the coast road from the airport to the capital city, Apia, and to once again become part of the Tour of Samoa family. Like all families it has its rituals and customs, but this time around these felt familiar and we were quickly back in the spirit of the race.
Although it is a race and taken quite seriously by those at the front, it has a very welcoming atmosphere and is accessible to anyone who likes riding a bicycle and can cover the distance. Also, being on two wheels is a fantastic way to experience Samoa’s two main islands, Upolu and Savai’i, and connect with the landscape and environment.
The race also has the best photographer that I have come across at any sporting event, Scott Taylor, so in this post I have only used his photos. It was hard to pare them down to a small enough number to use in a blog. I hope I have done them justice. Thanks Scottie for the photos and Seti and the team at Samoa Events for organising a memorable and enjoyable week for all of us.
The route and stages of the tour are shown on the map below. Savai’i is the island on the left and Upolu, where Apia is located, on the right.

Prologue (1.2km)
This took place on the Saturday two days before Stage 1.
A no show from the Apia Police meant that it was held on a shorter than planned circuit of 2 x c.600m. The second lap was surprisingly painful. It felt like my whole body, not just my legs, were being saturated with lactic acid.
It was raced for the honour of wearing the pink and yellow jerseys on Stage 1. The photo below shows the main road through Apia and about a third of the prologue circuit.

Amongst the men, most of the contenders took 2 minutes plus or minus a second or two, with Cliff being a couple of seconds faster. Impressively a local rider Hastings was a second quicker than Cliff, and our mechanic Kurt, on the bike that was going to be offered as a prize to the fastest local rider in the tour, was two seconds quicker than him. In the defence of everyone Kurt beat, he used to be a national level bike racer and now specialises in tearing around the pump track in Whangarei.
The weather was cooler than normal which was just as well. It was a relaxed way to spend the afternoon and see the government sector of town.

Stage 1 (40km, 511m of ascent)
A 6am start saw us leaving the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Apia, completing a circuit of the clock-tower and riding 28km along the coast to the start of Stage 1 in Falefa.

​As the sun rose the palm-fronted coastline took shape and the villages and roads came to life.

Falefa, where Stage 1 started, is the village where Hastings’ cycling club and one of most active local cycling groups, The Mountain Boyz, is based. As a gesture of respect for the club, Hastings and Lasi, who wearing the red jersey for best local rider, led the peloton through the village.
After a brief stop just beyond Falefa, the race proper commenced, kicked off with an early attack from Gordy on the flat section before the climb to Le Mafa Pass reared up.

In my part of the race I thought that I would not see Cliff again before the finish, but I was caught on some of the rollers following the top of the pass by Marlo, who was third quickest up that climb, and then the two of us were overhauled by Gordy and Dave on the descent. On the final 20km undulating section (which had formed the last half of Stage 2 in the 2024 race and is quite draining) the five of us reeled in Cliff. We finished together with Dave winning the sprint. I was fourth though we were all given the same time.
This photo is of Michelle, Jason’s wife, wearing a creatively made hi-vis vest at the finish.

Stage 2 (35k, 505m)
This year the stage climbed back over Upolu by the Cross Island Road. As this was south facing the ascent was going to be in the full force of the searing Pacific sun.
Lillian had joined our start group (the ‘A Group’) but some initial surges chasing the inevitable Gordy attacks meant she did not have a restful ride at all. Thankfully – for Lillian at least – Gordy punctured and as the front group slowed down Lillian and Malcolm were able to catch back onto us.
The pace did then increased and as we started to line out on the main climb the group was whittled down to seven. I put in an early attack and Cliff followed. We both rode together to the finish with Cliff taking the win just ahead of me. More importantly I now had a couple of minutes on Marlo and Dave, my main rivals for the podium.
Lillian had a strong ride, finishing as the first woman and in the top 10 overall. It started raining torrentially as we started the climb, which was a blessing as it kept us cool. In the photo below Lillian and Hastings are battling the gradient and rain.

​Stage 3 (35km, mostly flat)
This consisted of a ride to the ferry terminal with an even earlier start than the previous day. Lillian, who had dropped to the B Group, started at 5.30am and the rest of us at 5.45. I was concerned about racing down the coast road – probably the busiest road in Samoa – in the dark, but when the attacks started we were out of town and the faint light from the rising sun lit up the road.
Malcolm went off the front about half an hour from the ferry and everyone seemed content to let him go for the stage win. At least until Dave jumped into the draft of a passing bus and zoomed away from us. I think he was just bored rather than out to win the stage – he let Malcolm come in first – but unfortunately for him some additional bus drafting earned him a penalty of about 2 minutes.
Lillian’s group were much more sensible leaving the racing to the last kilometre, where Pam, Gordy’s partner, took the sprint in the women’s competition.
Having learnt from last year I had some dry clothes for the wait for the ferry and the one and a half hour journey to the island of Savai’i. Once there we drove to the nearby Lusia’s Resort, where the photo below was taken, for a second breakfast.

Stage 4 (34km, 111m)
I remembered from last year that this was the stage across the lava flats. They sound hot, and I can confirm, having raced across them for various reasons solo in both years, they are indeed scorching.
However, before the section that was raced we had a 14km group ride from Lusia’s Resort to the Amoa Resort, where we would be staying after Stage 7.
On the way to the Amoa Resort, we passed an imposing church, which like many churches in Samoa had two distinctive tower-like spires.

After a short stop at the Amoa, our group rolled down the driveway of the resort onto the coast road. Within 200m we crossed a mass of potholes. Bang! My rear wheel smacked into the lip of one of them and I had a pinch flat. Luckily Kurt reached me quickly and within 4 minutes I was moving again.
I knew I would be bleeding minutes on the bunch and that I would get no help for the 34km that was to follow. Fortunately I had a tailwind most of the way and, whilst I wouldn’t it enjoyable, riding a solo time trail was satisfying. And yes it hurt, but at least I was in control of the pace.
Lillian’s ride was less pressured but she still rode the lava flats section solo (see the photo below). Although called ‘flats’, they were actually one of the hillier parts of the stage.

State 5 (31km, 432m)
The time trial, my chance to try and make up time lost to Dave in Stage 4. He was in third place and a couple of minutes ahead of me in GC.
The start, at Tanu’s Fales, is a lovely spot. Daybreak was a spectacular tropical sunrise but the temperature soon began to climb, reaching 35+ degrees in the sun by the time we were riding up the climb at around 9-10am.

Some of us stayed in the neighbouring Stevensons Resort, mainly because the rooms were air-conditioned, though it sounds like the fales were also nice and cool for sleeping as they are completely open for the breeze to waft through. They have mosquitos nets in them however which was a relevant consideration as a dengue fever outbreak in Samoa had kept schools closed for several weeks.
In the morning Lillian and I rode with our day bags to Tanu’s for the time trial.

Chris, CEO of the race’s main sponsor, Negative Split Carbon, was looking very pro and gave this little boy a great morning workout

I finished second, about 50 seconds behind Cliff and 40 seconds ahead of Marlo. That was good enough to move me to third in GC behind Cliff and Marlo, positions that would remain unchanged for the rest of the tour.
At our evening briefing – in the tranquil surroundings of Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge – the general vibe was much more relaxed. We all knew where we stood in the pecking order and our minds were as focused on getting safely to the finish of Stage 7 as they were on trying to gain seconds.

Stage 6 (53km, 619m)
This was the longest stage of the tour but, as was the case last year, with the GC almost decided there was no benefit from anyone attacking early so we had an informal truce until about 5km from the end. The main excitement was caused by piglets crossing the road. These seem more scary than dogs as they don’t react when you shout at them. Marlo launched hostilities and Dave, Cliff and I were able to jump across to him. The four of us finished the stage together with Dave taking the win.
Lillian’s group started 30 minutes before ours so she rode up the main climb, 7km into the stage, just as the sun was rising.
​

Stage 7 (34km, 130m)
The final stage of the race. My main objective was to remain on my bike and in the bunch. We all started as one group, instead of splitting into a faster and a slower group as had been the case since Stage 2.
Initially Lillian and Cliff, the presumptive pink and yellow jersey winners, had to lead us out. I started to get worried that Lillian was going to spend too long on the front so I came through to try and help her.

Once we regrouped, one of Dave or Gordy attacked and stretched out the group. Just as I pushed to accelerate my foot pulled out of my right hand pedal and the shock knocked off my chain. I should have replaced my worn cleats! Thankfully no-one else attacked – for which I was very grateful – and after 3 or so minutes of effort I was about to catch up.
After that there were several attacks, which whittled down the group, but with the headwind no-one could get away. Lillian managed to stick with us to finish in the final 8 riders, a fine effort, and the two of us rolled in at the back of the bunch. Dave gave another masterclass in sprinting and took his third stage win.

We continued around the island to the Amoa Resort which felt to us like the promised land. It was hard to imagine that we had passed by it only two days previously.
Victory Ride
The promised land did not disappoint. We had a day relaxing in the Amoa. Lillian and I didn’t ride our bikes but most others did. Some to do “redemption rides” to make up kilometres of the tour missed by riding in the van, the longest of which was 110km! That was much further than any of the stages we raced.
Wes and Cliff both rode the Savai’i 180 starting at 5am to complete a lap of the island. Both attempts were impressive. Wes’s because this was the fourth and fastest time he’d done it and Cliff’s because he completed it in just under 6 hours (5:59:30!) setting a new official record.
The following day we started our “Victory Ride” with a group ride from the Amoa to the ferry back to Upolu.

The 2025 Tour of Sāmoa came to a fitting conclusion on Saturday with the ceremonial “victory ride” into Apia, where riders were cheered to the line after a gruelling week on the roads of Upolu and Savai’i. The neutralised finale gave the peloton time to reflect on a tour filled with fierce competition, friendships forged in the heat, and memories that will linger long after the jerseys are packed away.


When the dust settled, Cliff Hughes of Palmerston North was crowned men’s champion, while Lillian Gray of Hamilton City Cycling Club successfully defended her women’s crown, going back-to-back in Samoa’s biggest cycling event.


Gray proved the standout in the women’s race, claiming four stage wins and cementing her status as the dominant force in the peloton. Her consistency across the week saw her finish nearly 50 minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Pamela McCauley, who herself took two stage victories. Vicky Cairns completed the women’s overall podium in third place.


In the men’s race, Hughes’s strength and steady riding over seven hard stages gave him the decisive edge. He sealed two stage victories along the way and held off Marlo Rodil (second overall) and Mark Gray (third) in the general classification. The most prolific stage winner of the tour, however, was David Whyman, who lit up the race with three victories — a performance that underlined both his tactical nous and raw power.


For the host nation, the standout story came from Hastings Salanoa, who wore the red jersey as the leading Samoan rider from start to finish. Salanoa’s consistency, highlighted by a second place in the opening prologue, captured the imagination of the local cycling community. His efforts were recognised with a new racing bike, a prize that symbolises both his personal achievement and the bright future of the sport in Samoa.


Race Director Seti Afoa praised the riders and the growing strength of the event:


“Cycling in Sāmoa has come of age in this tour with the first local rider wearing the yellow jersey on the tour. This is a big achievement for the sport and the tour. We have two excellent champions in Cliff and Lillian, and it is very pleasing to see Lillian defend her title. She has been an excellent champion for the tour in the last twelve months. The future of the tour is secure with so much excitement among the riding crew and the tour community that keeps growing each year. This tour is a big event for the country, for tourism, for the sport. Seeing racing of this quality in Sāmoa is outstanding.”

Beyond the racing, the week-long event showcased the unique camaraderie that makes the Tour of Sāmoa special. Riders from New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, and Samoa battled on the road but shared laughter, meals, and stories off it — embodying the spirit of the tour as much as the jerseys and stage wins.


Now in its third year under the naming rights partnership with Negative Split Carbon, the Tour of Sāmoa has firmly established itself as the premier cycling event in the nation. The 2025 edition will be remembered for its scorching conditions, thrilling stage battles, and the joy of seeing both international riders and local talent shine together on Samoan roads.


As the peloton rolled into Apia for the ceremonial finish, it wasn’t just about who wore yellow or pink — it was about celebrating cycling in Samoa, and the promise that next year will be even bigger.

The Tour of Sāmoa served up a spectacular double-header on Thursday, with Stage 6 from Asau to Taga and Stage 7 from Taga back to Salelologa completing the riders’ circuit of Savai’i. By the end of the day it was New Zealander David Whyman who emerged as the man of the moment, claiming victories in both stages to underline his growing strength late in the tour.


Stage 6 opened with a punishing climb straight out of Asau, testing tired legs under the already-rising sun. Whyman rose to the challenge, driving clear on the undulating roads to Taga and holding his advantage to secure the win. In the women’s race, Pamela McCauley produced her best ride of the tour, powering over the climbs to take the stage win ahead of pink jersey leader Lillian Gray.


The afternoon brought Stage 7, a flat and fast run into Salelologa, the final competitive test of this year’s tour. The men’s race saw relentless aggression from veteran Gordon McCauley, who launched multiple attacks in a bid to unseat the yellow jersey contenders. His efforts whittled down the bunch but set the stage for a decisive sprint. At the line, Whyman timed his effort perfectly to edge out overall leader Cliff Hughes, with Chris Dunn taking third.


The women’s race unfolded differently. Rather than coming down to a sprint, Lillian Gray seized the opportunity to reaffirm her dominance, going clear on the run-in to Salelologa and taking the win — her fourth stage victory of the tour.


With competitive racing now complete, Hughes retains the men’s yellow jersey, Gray remains comfortably in pink, and local star Hastings Salanoa continues to wear the red jersey as leading Samoan rider. The peloton now enjoys a well-earned rest day at Amoa Resort, where riders will recover in their own ways — some with coffee rides, others with a full circumnavigation of Savai’i, and many simply with a chance to put their feet up.


On Saturday, the tour will close with its ceremonial finale: two neutralised stages back to Apia, including the “victory ride” through the capital. The jerseys are now secured, but the memories of a dramatic week of racing will linger long after the peloton crosses the line for the final time.

The 2025 Negative Split Carbon Tour of Sāmoa reached its midway point on Wednesday with Stage 5, a 31-kilometre individual time trial from Manase to the hills inland of Asau. Riders faced not only the clock but also searing conditions, with road temperatures climbing to 37 degrees Celsius — a brutal contrast for athletes who only weeks ago were training in New Zealand’s winter. By the end of the stage, Cliff Hughes had tightened his grip on the yellow jersey, while Lillian Gray continued her domination in pink.


The men’s race against the clock belonged to Hughes of Palmerston North, who set the day’s fastest time of 55 minutes and 34 seconds. His measured pacing and resilience in the heat saw him finish 51 seconds ahead of Mark Gray of Hamilton City Cycling Club, with Marlo Rodil of GMC Cycling third at one minute and 29 seconds back. It was a commanding performance that not only gave Hughes the stage win but also strengthened his hold on the General Classification. He now leads Rodil by four minutes, 11 seconds, with Gray in third at seven minutes, 38 seconds behind.


In the women’s time trial, defending champion Lillian Gray once again proved untouchable. Riding with her usual calm precision, she clocked one hour, 10 minutes and 46 seconds — more than five minutes faster than second-placed Vicky Cairns of NZ Cycling and nearly 11 minutes ahead of Pamela McCauley of GMC Cycling in third. Gray’s performance extended her General Classification advantage to a massive 48 minutes over McCauley, with Cairns a further six minutes back in third.


The extreme heat was the day’s defining factor. On the exposed coastal roads before the climb inland, the tarmac shimmered in the midday sun, and riders battled not just the gradients but the conditions. Many crossed the line exhausted, heads bowed, bodies dripping with sweat. For the overseas contingent, it was a stark reminder that Sāmoa’s roads can punish as much as they inspire.


Among the locals, Hastings Salanoa once again carried the red jersey with pride. He completed the time trial in one hour, three minutes and 35 seconds — a strong ride under the circumstances and one that ensured he continues as the leading Samoan rider on General Classification.


So at the close of Stage 5, the picture is clear: Hughes in yellow, Gray in pink, and Salanoa in red. But with two stages to come on Thursday, the Tour is far from over. Stage 6, a 54-kilometre battle from Asau to Taga, begins brutally with a steep climb and features undulating terrain that could open gaps among the leaders. Later that day, Stage 7 — a fast, flat 35-kilometre run into Salelologa — offers one final chance for sprinters and opportunists before the ceremonial rides bring the peloton back to Apia.


The heat of Asau may have tested every rider, but the decisive stages still lie ahead. For those chasing Hughes and Gray, Thursday is the last chance to change the story of this Tour.

The peloton of the 2025 Negative Split Carbon Tour of Sāmoa shifted islands on Tuesday and with it came fresh storylines, bold attacks, and a mix of new and familiar winners. Stages 3 and 4 took the riders from Upolu to Savai’i, offering contrasting tests — a flat sprint-friendly road to the ferry in the morning and a longer coastal stage into Manase in the afternoon. By the end of the day, Cliff Hughes still wore yellow, Lillian Gray remained untouchable in pink, and the race had two new stage winners to celebrate.


Stage 3, a 33-kilometre dash from Apia to Mulifanua, was expected to favour the sprinters. Instead, it was decided by daring aggression. Auckland’s Malcolm Lochhead launched an early attack, gambling that the bunch would hesitate. It was a bold move — and it paid off. With the chasing pack unable to close the gap, Lochhead powered across the line to take his first ever stage win at the Tour of Sāmoa. Behind him, veteran Gordon McCauley led the pursuit and claimed second, while Mark Gray rounded out the podium in third.


The women’s race saw a shake-up as well. Pamela McCauley seized her chance in the sprint, outsprinting defending champion Lillian Gray to take her maiden stage victory. Gray, who had dominated the opening days, settled for second, while Vicky Cairns secured third. It was a result that added intrigue to the women’s contest, even as Gray’s overall lead remained unthreatened.


After a quick ferry transfer, Stage 4 began on the island of Savai’i, where the riders tackled a 46-kilometre route from Salelologa to Manase. The terrain was flatter, but the pace was furious, and it was Jason Ward of Auckland who lit up the afternoon with a powerful solo break. Ward’s strength and commitment earned him a stage victory that he described as “one of the hardest but most rewarding rides I’ve done.” Behind him, former yellow jersey holder David Whyman finished second, with current leader Hughes sprinting in for third to maintain his grip on the overall classification.


In the women’s race, normal service resumed as Lillian Gray powered to another victory, ahead of Pamela McCauley in second and Cairns once again in third. With three stage wins from four days, Gray continues to look untouchable as she defends her title.


The jersey standings were unchanged at the end of Day Two. Hughes remains in yellow as the overall leader, Gray stays in pink, and Samoa’s own Hastings Salanoa continues to wear the red jersey as the top local rider. Salanoa’s consistency has been a source of pride for the home crowd, who cheered loudly as the peloton arrived in Manase to be hosted in traditional style at Tanu Beach Fales.


The riders now prepare for Stage 5, the Tour’s first individual time trial, a 31-kilometre test from Manase to a finish inland of Asau. Against the clock, every weakness is exposed, and with Hughes, Whyman, Ward, and McCauley all within striking distance of each other, Wednesday could mark a turning point in the race for yellow.

The first two road stages of the 2025 Negative Split Carbon Tour of Sāmoa delivered everything the event has come to be known for: fierce racing, unpredictable conditions, and history-making moments for local riders. From the sunlit climb of Le Mafa Pass to a sodden, rain-lashed finish at Aleisā, the yellow jersey has already changed shoulders twice, and the Tour is only just beginning.


Saturday’s Prologue in Apia saw local favourite Hastings Salanoa make history as the first Sāmoan to wear the yellow jersey into Stage 1. On Monday morning, as the peloton rolled out of Apia at dawn, Salanoa led the field proudly alongside women’s pink jersey holder Lillian Gray and red jersey wearer Lasi Salanoa. In a symbolic moment, the trio guided the peloton through their home village of Falefā, with the Mountain Boyz Cycling Club and Bike Samoa’s Wally Collins riding directly behind them in a show of community pride.


After a ceremonial pause at Falefā Falls, the neutral kilometres ended and racing began in earnest. The 42-kilometre route over the notorious Le Mafa Pass quickly broke the peloton into pieces. A leading group of Gordon McCauley, Mark Gray, David Whyman, Marlo Rodil, and Cliff Hughes surged to the front. Hughes launched the day’s first major attack, carving out a sizeable gap as the road turned inland. But misfortune struck when he was held up behind a slow vehicle, allowing the group to reel him back. The stage ended in a fast sprint at Siumu, where Whyman from Snells Beach, New Zealand, edged out McCauley, Rodil, Hughes, and Gray to take both the win and the yellow jersey.


If Whyman thought he would enjoy a comfortable hold on the leader’s jersey, the afternoon stage had other plans. The second stage from Sinalei Resort to Aleisā, raced under torrential rain, proved decisive. The downpour reduced visibility but also cooled riders as they ground their way up the punishing Cross Island Road. The weather played to the strengths of the hardmen, and once again it was Hughes and Gray who forced the pace. The pair broke clear of the field, with Hughes sprinting to victory at the summit, just one second ahead of Gray. The result gave Hughes the overall race lead heading into Day Two, while Whyman relinquished his short-lived hold on yellow.


In the women’s race, 2024 champion Lillian Gray showed no sign of weakness, winning both stages to consolidate her hold on the pink jersey. “The rain was brutal but in some ways it helped—it kept us cooler on the climb,” she said at the finish. “It’s only the start, but I’m happy with how I’m feeling.”


On the local leaderboard, fortunes swung dramatically. After Stage 1, Wally Collins of Bike Samoa had opened up a seven-minute gap on Hastings Salanoa. But Stage 2 turned the tables, with Salanoa putting more than 20 minutes into Collins, who suffered mechanical issues in the rain. That performance crowned Salanoa as the new Sāmoa Cycling Road Champion. Meanwhile, red jersey holder Lasi Salanoa suffered a heavy crash in Stage 1 after colliding with a dog. He was treated immediately by fellow rider Dr. Lillian Gray and tour medic Brenda Reid before being taken to hospital for checks.


Race Director Seti Afoa reflected on the day with pride. “It was a landmark moment to see a local rider in yellow for the first time,” he said. “We made sure that milestone was celebrated in Falefā, and the way Hastings and Lasi led the peloton through their village will stay in people’s memories. After that, the racing took over, and we’ve already seen the kind of drama and determination that makes this event so special.”


Tomorrow’s action sees the peloton tackle two stages on different islands. Stage 3 is a flat 33-kilometre dash from Apia to Mulifanua, likely to favour the sprinters. The riders will then board the ferry to Savai’i for Stage 4, a 46-kilometre coastal route from Salelologa to Manase. After the punishing climbs and rain of Monday, these stages offer a chance for fast men and breakaway specialists to shine before the first time trial looms on Wednesday.


The Tour of Sāmoa is only three stages old, but with Hughes in yellow, Gray in pink, and Hastings Salanoa carrying both local pride and a national title, the story of this race is already shaping into one of the most memorable in its history.