January 03, 2013 (Shelly Beach, South Africa) – Acclaimed pro mountain bike rider, Burry Willie Stander (Team Specialized), has died following a collision with a taxi during a training ride. The 25-year-old South African cyclist finished fifth at the 2012 London MTB cross-country event.

He was the first South African to win the Absa Cape Epic, together with Swiss rider Christoph Sauser in 2011. The pair successfully defended their title in 2012. Stander, the U23 MTB Worlds champion in 2009, also distinguished himself on Canadian soil, finishing third at the MTB  World Championships at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec in 2010. In 2012, he married elite road cyclist Cherise Taylor (Lotto Belisol Ladies), also a South African.

“Shocked, saddened, speechless…Burry was a true personality that we’ll all miss dearly in many ways. Condolences to his family & friends,” posted Canadian mountain biker Geoff Kabush (Scott – 3Rox) on Facebook.

Pedal joins the cycling community around the globe in sending condolences to Stander’s family and friends – also on Twitter at #RIPBurry.