Tour of Sāmoa Wrap: Gray Goes Back-to-Back, Hughes Takes Yellow, and Salanoa Leads the Locals

ScottieT Photography

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 peloton arrives in Apia | ScottieT Photography