Tonga teen cyclist debuts at Pacific Cup

The Pacific Cup cycling competition starts on Friday in Cambridge, Waikato, bringing together athletes from across the Pacific for two days of racing and skill development.

The event is being held at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome Continental Satellite Centre and features individual time trials and road races. Following successful editions in Guam and Tahiti, the Pacific Cup is fast becoming a key fixture in Oceania’s sporting calendar.

Representing the Kingdom of Tonga is 18-year-old Peni Lālahi, who is grateful for the opportunity to compete on the international stage, especially since he only started competitive training a few months ago.

Speaking with John Pulu on PMN Tonga, Lālahi says cycling is a new addition to his skill set.

“Even though there’s a little bit of pressure, I get to meet new people, go to a new place, and do something I’ve never done before,” he says. “And also, most excitedly, I get to represent my own country, and I think that’s a very big honour.

“I knew what cycling was, but I’d never actually done it myself. But ever since going into it, it’s been exciting, and I’ve been having a lot of fun.”

Peni Lālahi (right) will debut at the Pacific Cup 2025 in Cambridge, New Zealand. Photo/Supplied

The competition features a 30-kilometre time trial and a 100km road race across the rolling terrain of Waikato, providing Pacific cyclists with a chance to test their endurance and learn from international peers.

This year, there are 35 cyclists competing from 11 Pacific nations, including Fiji, Tahiti, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Lālahi says the experience has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.

“I was told by the board members and my coaches, ‘You don’t need to win the race. We don’t expect you to, but try your best’,” he tells Pulu. “Despite my inexperience, they have been very, very supportive. I get to learn from them as well.”

Watch Peni Lālahi and Afoa Seti Afoa's full interview below.

Growing the sport

Pacific Cup organiser Afoa Seti Afoa says the competition is helping pave the way for new nations to enter international cycling.

He says there have been major developments for Tonga’s cycling profile in recent months.

“The Pacific Cup has been running for four years now in Guam, Tahiti and now here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are very much looking forward to being part of the races starting on Friday and Saturday.

“The Cycling Federation of Tonga was incorporated in Tonga in July and then admitted as a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in Kigali, Rwanda, just last month.

“All of a sudden, we have a cycling federation that’s thriving in Tonga, with riders at the Pacific Cup and a coach right here in Cambridge.”

Tony Mitchell, President of the Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) and UCI committee member, welcomes Tonga as a new member.

Kahiri Endeler, Celine Hirzel and Jake Jones have been crowned the inaugural Oceania Pacific Cup Champions in Guam in 2022. Photo/Oceania Cycling Confederation

In a statement, Mitchell says they look forward to working with the Cycling Federation of Tonga to grow the sport at both national and international levels.

“Over the last 12 years, the OCC has worked to grow cycling in our region, and in that time our membership has increased from four to 15, including 12 full member nations,” he says.

“This growth has allowed us to deliver increased resources and development opportunities across the Oceania region, including Pacific Cups for road and mountain bike, and the return of cycling to the Pacific Games in Tahiti in 2027.”

Afoa, who has played a key role in developing cycling programmes such as the annual Tour of Sāmoa, says the sport is gaining momentum across the region and encourages others to give it a try.

“To see Tonga come into the fold and also American Sāmoa, cycling is growing in our region,” he says. “For example, Peni here took on cycling a month ago, and now he’s riding around in a very nice bike in Nuku’alofa. That assistance is also available to anyone else who might think this sport is for me.”

The Pacific Cup time trial and race runs from 17-18 October at the Grassroots Trust UCI Continental Satellite Velodrome.

The Pacific Cup 2025 will take place at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge. Photo/Google Maps