ORLANDO, Fla. (May 12, 2016) -- The men's upright competition came down to a sprint finish May 10 as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Zed Pitts took bronze and Team USA's recumbent women cyclists swept the criterium portion of the cycling competition at the 2016 Invictus Games here.
More than 500 wounded, ill and injured service members from 14 nations competed this week in 10 sporting events May 8 to 12 as they were cheered on by thousands of family members, friends and spectators.
The day started out just a little cool, but it heated up quickly in the blazing Florida sun as the cyclists began the time trial, a one-lap sprint, followed by the criterium, or "crit," a race consisting of several laps around a circuit.
CRASHING, COMARADERIE
Pitts took bronze in the time trial and crashed during the criterium.
"I don't know what happened," he said. "The tires just kind of lost the grip of the road. It was kind of disappointing. But, it was still a fun experience, so I kind of still won because I enjoyed myself, and that's the whole point of this event."
Pitts met British Army Sgt. Andrew Perrin at the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games, and since then, Perrin has been coaching Pitts via social media and on the course. Perrin and Pitts joked that Perrin was even giving him advice during Invictus on the course. Perrin won gold in the criterium competition.
Perrin has received training from professionals, Pitts said, "so it was pretty cool that he looked at me as a cyclist with a lot of potential."
Pitts said Perrin reminded him "over and over again that I must enjoy the sport if I want to go far."
"During the criterium, I would ask, 'Do we break now?' And he was like, 'No, just relax.' He'd say, 'Stay on my wheel.' He was giving me guidance as we went through the race until the fourth lap, when I crashed, but he came back to make sure I was OK."
U.S. WOMEN SWEEP CRITERIUM
Medically retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Janae Piper took gold, medically retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Aaron Stewart took silver and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Gabby Graves-Wake took bronze in the women's recumbent bike time trial and criterium races, sweeping the podium for both races.
"[The course] was really curvy, but very flat. It was a tight race for us. We worked together as a team," Piper said. "We kept going back and forth and taking lead and drafting back and forth. It was definitely a win for USA on this one."
Piper said she didn't understand how the laps were working during the criterium, so she wasn't holding anything back.
"I spent every bit of energy left I had out there on the course," she said. "It was really exhausting. It was a rough ride."
The United Kingdom competitor was on their tail a few times, Piper said. "We finally got to break away ... and we could only do that if we worked as a team," she added. "Teamwork was definitely necessary to make this win a possibility"
Piper's mother, Joyce, said she was so proud of her daughter she was jumping up and down at the finish line and dropped her phone.
"I was crying. Everybody around me was cheering for her -- everybody, not just the USA," she said. "It's everybody cheering for winners. They all do. I'm so proud. I can't even describe it. It's amazing. She's come a long way. This has helped her so much."
Susan Graves, Graves-Wakes' mother, said she's proud of all of the competitors. "They're all wonderful, just great athletes," she said. "I love them all. Just seeing 'my kids' each year over and over again bring home gold, silver and bronze is just one of the best gifts I could have."
For Stewart, it was a chance to defend his title. Stewart is early in his transgender reassignment. He earned gold in cycling in the 2014 Invictus Games.
He said Piper not only beat all the other women, but also all the men in the recumbent category, as well. "She was incredibly fast. We were all within five seconds of each other. It was a close race," Stewart said.
Teammate medically retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Katie Kuiper earned gold medals in the women's upright time trial and criterium. She said she's had an amazing time at Invictus and has enjoyed the camaraderie, the families and the crowd.
"I feel very welcomed and enjoy the energy," she said. The camaraderie with the athletes from other countries has been great, she added, because "even though we're competitors, we're all still military and have that kind of camaraderie together."
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