Hi all,
Thanks for everyone who participated in our AGM last weekend. I will post a Committee update in coming weeks. Here’s to 2025
For today’s blog I am super-pleased to introduce part 1 from our very own Claire Tyrrell introducing Sophia Sammons. Sophia started riding with SPR on Sunday Hills and now is putting in a lot of work aiming to make a career on the bike (if you follow her on social media you will see she is out in the hills a lot more than Sunday morning :)).
Enjoy part one this week and part two coming next week.
Sophia is heading to Europe to race in next few months. If you would like to support her (which would be amazing), head to her fundraising page here. You can also get along to the Spartans Paris Roubaix on the Big Screen organised by Adrian Emilsen – all funds raised go to support Sophia’s upcoming travel to Europe.
Also check out the Juniors photos later in the blog — huge kudos to Paige Verbiesen for taking our the win in the Junior Girls U9 division in the WA Cyclocross Kids Party in the Park 2025 – all the results here. Not to mention lots of photos from Toby Brown here.
See you out on the bike.
Daniel
Sophia Sammons (part one)

Perth cyclist Sophia Sammons has gone from strength to strength, placing fifth at the recent ProVelo Super League in South Australia as well as in the National Championships Road Race.
This promising young rider started her cycling journey with the South Perth Rouleurs.
Claire Tyrrell spoke to Sophia recently to find out more about her background, her ambitions, and how she got to where she is today.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in the Dominican Republic. My parents met in Equador, but lived in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic for a little bit. I moved to Australia pretty much right away, to Perth, then to Melbourne, then to Perth. I was really little at the time, so all I remember is Perth.
How long have you been cycling?
This is my third year now. I was a (middle distance) runner before.
Running is a sport where you really need to understand how to hurt.
What attracted you to cycling?
I got injured (an ankle tendon). It was the motion of running that I couldn’t do, but I was allowed to pedal. My dad had a bike that I used, a gravel bike.
I actually really hated cycling when I first started doing it as rehab, but eventually I started to like it more than I did running. I was considering being a triathlete or even a duathlete, but I actually enjoy cycling too much to do running. So now I’m a full time cyclist.
What made you go from hating cycling to enjoying it?
Around the same time, I had a really bad eating disorder, so I think I really liked (that) it’s a longer sport, therefore I’m burning more calories. That really enticed me to want to be able to do more and more.
Did cycling help you overcome that eating disorder?
My parents put their foot down at one point, and literally told me I was not allowed to train, so I couldn’t do any running, any cycling. And then I think after that, I still had that love of cycling, even when I got better. And it just kind of carried on from that.
I think cycling has been that thing where I can appreciate my body and myself for something other than its looks, for being good on a bike, being strong and powerful, being able to do all these things.
When did you realise you wanted to take your cycling to the next level?
I think just because I enjoyed it so much. I love the challenge of getting better, so I think I was like, “Oh, I can get paid for being able to do that”, so it was mainly that kind of drive to be able to want to do this thing full time, pretty much.
I think when Brad (Hall) started coaching me, so that would be in October 2023, he kind of made me believe that I could go somewhere in this sport, that I was better than what I thought I was.
How did you come to ride with SPR?
It was after rehab when I got my first road bike, I wanted to go into the hills, but I couldn’t go by myself, mainly because I didn’t know where I was going I was about 16 or 17 and I found the SPR hills ride on a Sunday, and I did the long ones or short ones if I had work in the morning.
It was just a great way to really push myself up the hills and be able to ride with other people, even though I didn’t know that many people within cycling.
I think it was my dad who recommended it.
Can you tell me about your experiences riding with the club?
It was really, really positive. I really enjoyed it. We’d go hard up all the climbs, and it was really satisfying, you know, beating quite a few of the people at the climb, being the first one, and everyone was really encouraging, saying, “you’re really good at this, and you’ve got what it takes”. So yeah, I really did enjoy it.
*Read the next installment of the SPR Blog to learn about Sophia’s professional career.









SPR Italy Trip 2025 — We’ve had a great response to the EOI and the trip is on! Two places left in fact! Details below including link to EOI.
Updated post in the blog last week and EOI here.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.
1. 4Five+ Tiger Tracks Gravel (5-6 Apr)
2. WCMCC Splendid Park Criterium (6 Apr)
3. PDCC Hilly TT & BBQ 2025 (13 Apr)
4. MCC Stan Gurney VC Memorial Criterium (25 Apr)
5. CCC Tom Lowry Memorial Road Race (3 May)


Juniors Ride — Saturday (29/3) – 10:30 AM
Meeting point: Under the Mt Henry Bridge (https://maps.app.goo.gl/rFwTfCrdmiqznMrv8)
Route: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/337069988
- Start by riding along the freeway PSP to the Farrington exit (~5 km, circled in the map).
- The group will split for fast-paced training, continuing to the Willeri Dr exit (for ~7.5 km).
- After a short break, we’ll ride back, regrouping at Farrington Rd before finishing together in recovery mode.
- Young riders and beginners can join, but I would recommend them to ride back to Mt Henry bridge when we reach Farrington Rd (for a total distance of ~10km). In this case your child MUST be accompanied by a parent all the time. There will be no support on your way back.
Parking Information:
There’s a large car park under the bridge and near the nearby park. If no spots are available, consider parking in the surrounding streets or at Deep Water Point. Be sure to allow extra time to park so you’re ready to start at 10:30 AM.
Finally, check out some photos from the Kids Party in the Park last weekend!






From the Ride Coordinator — Communication is another aspect of a successful group ride. Calling out hazards is everyone’s responsibility and those calls should be shared throughout the group.
Don’t forget to wear club kit for the main ride on Saturdays. It doesn’t have to be the latest version: vintage, TOMR, anything SPR will be appreciated.
This Sunday will see the running of the Perth Hills Gran Fondo (URL : https://piet.com.au/perth-hills-gran-fondo). Please ensure you pass any groups safely as part of our Sunday ride.
Saturday 29th March
- Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
- Early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special
- All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
- Development group (*) – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday
- Transitional 1/2 (*) – Trans Abernethy 39.96km SPR Saturday
- Fast, Main – Holmes Rd 49.98km SPR Saturday (revised)
- (*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 30th March
- Rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am (WINTER TIME)
- Rides start at Coode st carpark at 7:00am (WINTER TIME)
- Development group – coffee ride
- Short Hills (Social) – Khna Weir 68.66km SPR Sunday
- Rides start at Bellevue RSL at 6:00am
Gravel Ride – Midland Bellevue round trip Heritage Trail(restart post-TOMR)
Monday 31st March
- Ride starts under the Narrows (Sth Perth side) at 5:30am
Tuesday 1st April
- Ride starts under the Narrows (city side) at 5:30am
Wednesday 2nd April
- Ride starts under the Narrows (Sth Perth side) at 5:30am
Thursday 3rd April
- Ride starts under the Narrows (city side) at 5:30am
Friday 4th April
- Ride starts under the Narrows (Sth Perth side) at 5:30am