XC racer Burry Stander killed while riding in South Africa
Originally posted on January 3, 2013 at 17:50 pm
Photo courtesy of Specialized.
Former U23 World Champion, Olympian, and World Cup winner Burry Standar was killed by a taxi while riding in his home country of South Africa today. He was 25 years old.
The collision occured in Shelly Beach on the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast. Details are under investigation.
Stander, a top cross-country racer for Specialized Racing won the U23 World Championship in 2009 and most recently finished fifth at the Olympic games in London. He also won the Windam World Cup in New York this year as well as the Singlespeed World Championships in South Africa. Stander also became the first hometown winner of the mighty Cape Epic with his teammate Christoph Sauser in 2011 and repeated in 2012. Since 2008 the duo collected 20 stage wins.
Specialized has issued this official statement:
It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to our friend and cycling legend Burry, who was tragically snatched away in the prime of his life while training in his hometown of Kwazulu-Natal this afternoon.
We have lost not only a friend, colleague and teammate, but a true sportsman. He will long be remembered for his humility, his prowess and the gentle manner in which he conducted his life!
Our heartfelt sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Cherise, his parents, family and all who were privileged to know this gentle giant.
Life is short, life is sweet but his legend will live on forever…
Sincere condolences to all.