South African cycling and the mountain bike community are trying to come to terms with the news that Burry Stander has been killed in a training accident today.
According to initial reports, the 25 year old rider was hit by a taxi while training on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.
Many individuals connected with the MTB and South African cycling scene have been paying tribute to the talented rider, who represented his country in the London Olympics and finished fifth there.
He also won the 2009 world under 23 cross country championships, showing his potential.
“He was out training, and apparently there was a motorist accident,” said South Africa Cycling president William Newman, according to Ewn.co.za. He added that the news was ‘tragic.’
While he concentrated on mountainbike competition, Sander also clocked some very solid road results. He was second behind Darren Lill in the 2011 South African road race championships.
Last season he triumphed in the Windham World Cup, the Specialized Racing rider beating Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Wildwolf - Trek Pro Racing) by seventeen seconds and Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) by 31.
Stander and racing partner Christoph Sauser twice won the Cape Epic race. The latter was in shock at the news, paying tribute via Twitter. “Never felt so empty since my dad passed away when I was a kid,” he wrote. “I will never ever forget you!”
Condolences to Standers’ wife, family, friends and team-mates.