USMES, the Invictus Games and Zwift are Bringing The Hague Home

May 8, 2020

US Military Endurance Sports (USMES) Boulder, CO – May 8, 2020 – Invictus Games Foundation competitors Zed Pitts (Team USA, USMES) and Andy Perrin (Team UK) first met at the 2015 Warrior Games. Citizens of different countries and veterans of different militaries, Zed and Andy bonded over friendly competition, their love of cycling, and the experience of having invisible disabilities. Initially Zed and Andy kept in touch on Facebook and Strava, before discovering they could ride together weekly on Zwift. “After my first virtual experience, I realized that all military veterans could benefit from socially interactive, fitness-based platforms such as Zwift,” said Zed. “Cyclists can share an adaptive sports journey together no matter how far apart we are.”

When Invictus Games 2020 in The Hague was cancelled, Zed and Andy came up with the idea to Bring The Hague Home by inviting wounded, injured and sick (WIS) cyclists to take part in a series of Zwift rides and races. US Military Endurance Sports (USMES), Zed’s cycling club, will host the first Invictus Games Foundation ride on Monday, May 11. “I encourage WIS servicemen and women to join USMES on the Watopia Waistband course, to demonstrate our resilience and commitment to staying fit and healthy, and look out for one another while we can’t be together,” said Andy.

USMES has a longstanding relationship with Zwift, hosting six well-attended rides a week for Veterans and servicemembers stationed all over the world. “My job is to find meaningful relationships that help change and shape the lives of those impacted,” said Rahsaan Bahati, Social Impact Manager at Zwift. “Honoring those servicemen and women from around the world who unselfishly protect us is humbling. And working with USMES and the Invictus Games Foundation helps us stay true to our mission to make more people, more active, more often.”

Invictus Foundation riders will also gather at the Thursday, May 14 US Paracycling Time Trial and the Saturday, May 16 Zwift Crit City Race. You do not have to be a member of the WIS community, or an Invictus Games competitor to join us on a ride to Bring The Hague Home. Friends, family, and supporters of the Invictus community are welcome to join. Learn more at the Invictus Foundation website: https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/news-blogs/

About US Military Endurance Sports

US Military Endurance Sports (USMES), a division of American Servicemembers Amateur Sports (ASAS) Inc, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization chartered to support amateur athletes, endurance sports education and activities for current, retired, and Veteran members of the United States Armed Forces. The mission of USMES is to promote endurance sports as part of a healthy lifestyle to active and Veteran members of America’s Uniformed Services. usmes.org

About The Invictus Games Foundation
The Invictus Games Foundation uses the power of sport and the Invictus Spirit to inspire recovery, and support the rehabilitation of international wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women and veterans (WIS) to improve their life beyond injury or illness.

The Foundation manages the process of selecting the hosts of the Invictus Games and oversees the delivery of this international sporting event involving competitors and their friends and family from 20 nations.

The Invictus Games Foundation also provides members of the WIS community with opportunities in all areas of life to help them in their recovery, develop new skills and allow them to engage fully in society. invictusgamesfoundation.org

Twitter: @WeAreInvictus