173rd Airborne represents USA in Estonian cross-country cycling competition

Pedaling partnerships: 173rd Airborne Brigade represents USA in Estonian cross country cycling competition — 1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Three paratroopers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, wait to begin the 2014 Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade Cross Country Cycling Competition, held Aug. 19, 2014, in Paldiski, Estonia. The four-man team com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PALDISKI, Estonia (Sept. 9, 2014) -- For at least four years, the Estonian Defense Forces' 1st Infantry Brigade has drawn scores of Estonia's cycling enthusiasts to take part in its annual Cross Country Cycling Competition.

On Aug. 19, the competitive appeal reached beyond Estonia's borders when four American paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade pedaled alongside their host-nation partners.

"This is the first time Americans have ever competed here," said Sgt. Ott Mand, the chief organizer of the event. "Their participation makes this race a truly international contest."

As a physical training instructor for the Estonian Defense Forces' Single Scouts Infantry Battalion, Mand ensured that his American allies were properly equipped for the challenge.

"We loaned our bikes and helmets to [the American Soldiers]," said Mand, a native of Kuressaare, Estonia. "We wanted to give them an opportunity to compete against Estonia's military and police in an extreme environment outside of a typical training exercise."

Members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade are currently deployed to Estonia in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an exercise dedicated to demonstrating commitment to NATO obligations and maintaining interoperability with allied forces and welcomed the opportunity to ride with the Estonians.

"As I put on my helmet and hopped on my bike, I thought to myself, 'Wow, I'm riding in Estonia,'" said Pfc. Mario A. Finke, a supply specialist in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. "The Estonians were extremely helpful. This was a fun way to interact with them."

As Mand and his staff corralled the 72 cyclists to their starting marks, the methodical whoosh of wind turbines strewn across the countryside reminded the competitors their tires would rarely roll across flat or paved surfaces.

"I competed in professional races while growing up in the Dominican Republic," said Finke, a native of West New York, New Jersey. "The courses there were longer and the hills were steeper, but the route [in Estonia] had a lot more sand, making it hard to climb without getting off your bike and running up the hill with it."

Cameras that were mounted on the paratroopers' helmets or chests attested to the rugged terrain along the 20-kilometer course.

"Several cyclists fell and many bikes broke during the race," said Mand. "Of the four American competitors, one cracked his helmet, one lost a pedal and one had his wheel snap off."

"I wiped out when I tried to pass someone on a narrow path," added Finke. "It's a shame my GoPro had stopped recording before I ate dirt."

Despite the setbacks, every man representing the red, white and blue crossed the finish line.

"I love that feeling when you finish a race," said Finke. "You're tired but you're proud. That was especially true here considering we raced on behalf of the [U.S.] Army."

"The Americans did a great job despite breaking our bikes," Mand said with a smile. "Their participation shows the importance of why our NATO allies should work together beyond the battlefield. Friendly competitions like these bring us closer together while attracting young men and women to join our ranks."