 Lillian Gray enjoying the adulation of her fellow riders, Glynis Te Maipi-Kemp (Kapiti Cycling Club) and Catherine Moran (Port Hills, Christchurch) on the steps of the main Government Building at Ele’ele Fou. Photo ScottieTPhoto. Hamilton medical doctor Lillian Gray was crowned the Women’s Champion in the 8th Tour of Sāmoa. The cycling road show over a week covered both islands, Upolu and Savai’i. The spectacle is the biggest cycling event in the country each year since 2014. In the women’s tour, nine riders competed for the coveted pink jersey, equivalent of the men’s yellow jersey for the tour leader. Lillian secured the women’s pink jersey on day one at the end of the first stage. She maintained the lead throughout the week despite giving away two stages. One each to Glynis and Ella. Lillian is seen here enjoying the winning moment with 2nd-placed finisher Glynis Te Maipi-Kemp and Cahterine Moran who finished third. Te Maipi-Kemp was the 2023 women’s champion. She collected a stage win this time but the pace of the tour, for men and women was elevated to a new level this year. The women’s tour is a big feature of the Tour of Sāmoa. The Sāmoa tour is one of very few cycling tours in the world where the women ride the same course as the men’s tour. For the first time, three Samoan women riders also completed the tour. Vicky Cairns (Auckland), Ella Simanu (Auckland) and Patricia Brooks (Town Clock Racing, Sāmoa Cycling) also finished the tour. It’s the first tour for Ella and Patricia while Vicky rode the tour in 2023.  Lillian leads the Victory Ride to Apia through Faleata. Photo ScottieTPhoto. Three other Sāmoan riders rode part of the tour, cousins Graceshalom Ta’aitōfaga and Maria Brooks (Town Clock Racing). Pa’ulua Toma (Itū o Tane Club) added to the success of the tour by representing Savai’i in the Time Trial on day three of the tour. Maria and Patricia Brooks were earlier this year crowned Oceania Mountain Bike medallists, 2nd and third, at the Oceania MTB Championships in Brisbane.  Sāmoan rider Vicky Cairns on day one of the tour. Photo ScottieTPhoto.  Lillian is presented the Women’s Trophy and Queen of the Mountain plate by District Court Judge Leota Raymond Schuster at the tour prizegiving at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel. Below - District Court Judge Leota Raymond Schuster with Patricia Brooks, Grace Ta’aitōfaga and Maria Brooks. Photo ScottieTPhoto  Lillian enjoys a riding moment with husband Mark Gray on the last day of the tour. Photo ScottieTPhoto  Article by Seti Afoa
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