Hughes Strikes in the Rain as Tour of Sāmoa Yellow Jersey Changes Hands Again

Hastings Salanoa. Scottiet Photography

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.