At 6am yesterday, the Ford Peloton took off from the Town clock in Apia headed east to Lalomanu, and on to Maninoa, Siumu for the overnight on Day 1.
The overwhelming verdict of the first stage is, it was - hot!
The hills at Le Mafa and Afulilo are bigger than the race map showed. It is just the way the mind interprets different situations, when the going gets really tough. It was!
Twenty-four mean men, and five even meaner women tackled the Day 1 course. And all finished! There were bigger smiles than were ever seen in Lalomanu three hours later, where the tour finished its first stage.
Riders are happy with everything; they are sold on riding the roads of Samoa. The stage is set for the next six days.
The camaraderie is there for all to see. This third installation of the Tour of Samoa, if like the first stage, will live on in the memories of the riders. And they will be back.