Clichy-Sous-Bois, France — One week to the day after the Paralympic Games opened, Team USA para road cyclists finally got their chance to compete. 12 U.S. athletes competed across nine different events in Clichy-Sous-Bois, a town about ten miles East of Paris, on Wednesday. A handful of them added to Team USA’s medal count.

Two U.S. athletes competed in the women’s C1-3 individual time trial. Clara Brown was the first of the two to begin, departing at 9:07 AM Paris time. The now-two-time Paralympian finished the 14.1-kilometer-long race in 22:58.00, good for eighth place. Jamie Whitmore followed at 9:13 to kick off her third Paralympic Games. Whitmore finished just under a minute behind her teammate Brown with a time of 23:57.57, placing her 11th.

At 9:42, Cody Wills began his quest for gold in the men’s H2 individual time trial. In his Paralympic debut, Wills finished sixth with a time of 30:01.21. Wills has two events left on his Paris slate.

Dennis Connors began his race in the men’s T1-2 individual time trial at 10:25. Connors, 39, is a former para climber who also made his Paralympic debut on Wednesday. Connors’ first Paralympic race was a solid one. His 24:37.11 time was good for fifth in the field of 12. Connors is back in action Saturday in the men’s T1-2 road race.

Four Americans competed across three events in the afternoon sessions, in which the race length was two laps as opposed to one. Elouan Gordon was the first to take on the 28.3-kilometer race in the men’s C5 individual time trial. Gordon, racing in his first Paralympics, posted a time of 37:43.86, good for seventh place.

The duo of Travis Gaertner and Mike Tingley was next in the men’s H4 individual time trial. Gaertner came in fifth with a time of 43:27.26, while Tingley followed in ninth at 47:14.20. Both athletes will return for two more events before the Games conclude.

Brandon Lyons’ race in the men’s H3 individual time trial capped the day for Team USA. The first-time Paralympian registered a time of 49:34.02, resulting in tenth place. Lyons will compete in the road race and team relay events later in the Games.

Team USA had athletes compete in three other events in addition to the six above. All three of them saw a U.S. athlete win gold.

Two U.S. athletes competed in the women’s C4 individual time trial. Shawn Morelli and Samantha Bosco had a 4 AM wakeup call ahead of their race. That did not stop them from strong performances. Morelli’s 22:53.35 time placed her in sixth, while Bosco’s 21:39.24 was good for gold.

“It feels amazing,” exclaimed Bosco, who picked up her first career Paralympic gold medal. “I think I’m still taking everything in, I had to run to find my husband and give him a hug and cry my eyes out, then I found my parents and really good friends that are here, to have them here witnessing it in person is amazing.”

The second U.S. medal of the day belongs to women’s H4-5 cyclist Oksana Masters. Chantal Haenen of the Netherlands gave Masters all she could handle, but it wasn’t enough to topple the now-three-time Paralympian. Masters’ time of 23:45.20 edged Haenen’s by just six seconds.

“It feels absolutely incredible,” proclaimed Masters, who won her third career Paralympic gold medal. “It feels so incredible to be able to defend my Paralympic champion title, especially from the world championships and time trial, I got a flat, so it feels extra special to come out, defend my title and have the race that I, my coach, and my team knew I could have.”

Moments after Masters won her gold, Kate Brim joined the party in the women’s H1-3 individual time trial. Making her Paralympic debut, Brim’s time of 24:19.59 edged Australia’s Lauren Parker by less than ten seconds.

“It’s so surreal,” remarked Brim. “It feels absolutely amazing, and I’m excited for what the rest of the week has to hold, it’s going to be absolutely incredible to continue racing amongst athletes who are here to give their 100%.”

Para road cycling action continues Thursday with six U.S. athletes competing in five different road race events.