Team Ireland's Ronan Grimes and compatriot Richael Timothy both finished 11th in their respective road races in wet conditions at Fuji International Speedway this morning.
The conditions played a huge part in Grimes' C4-5 contest as only 11 riders were still in the race after the first lap.
Disaster was to strike for the Galway man as he came off his bike under a bridge as he tried to avoid another crash.
After getting back on his bike, it was to prove too great a challenge to catch back up to the main group as he spent the next two hours battling gamely on his own to clock two hours 29.21 minutes.
"An honour to be here," Grimes said afterwards. "I think every race I performed as well as I could. On the track, I was unlucky with the fourth place but it was a performance to my best.
"Here in Fuji, I am happy with how I performed here too. I am happy with my Games, I couldn't have done better."
Timothy completed her programme in the C1-C3 category in 1:21.22.
Timothy stayed with the group for the first lap as competitors adjusted to the treacherous conditions.
As numerous attacks were mounted on the steep hills, it became more difficult for the Roscommon woman and Timothy was unable to maintain touch with the frontrunners.
However she was far from disappointed with her display, admitting post-race: "I didn’t really expect to be here at all, to be here was the goal and to give my all in each event.
"I can call myself a Paralympian now. Three years ago, I was told to find something for myself to do – sport isn’t an option.
"But I kept pushing it that I wanted sport in my life that was how I found the paracycling and it gave me a purpose to get out and do something and now it is my livelihood."
Follow all the action from the Paralympic Games with our coverage on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, watch live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player or listen to updates and live commentaries on RTÉ Radio.
