SuperSport pays homage to late, great Stander
SuperSport will tonight pay tribute to local cycling great Burry Stander, tragically killed in an accident in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
In a four-hour window starting at 7pm on SuperSport 5 tonight, SuperSport will broadcast highlights of his back-to-back triumphs in the Absa Cape Epic and also his heroic ride in the 2012 London Olympics. The programming will also include a full profile of the man who gave mountain biking such a boost with his performances in World Cup events and the world championship.
SuperSport producer Aubrey Coetzee, who often arranged for Stander to be a guest on magazine programme Super Cycling, had nothing but praise for the 24-year-old maestro.
“He was an absolute gentleman who always represented his sport like the professional he was. He answered calls and was always available. His great hope was to become the top mountain biker in the world and I had little doubt that this would be his year to do so. This news has broken me and my thoughts go out to his family.”
Super Cycling host Andrew McLean echoed these sentiments: “Cycling has lost a giant of a man. It’s a massive loss and I despair for the cycling community, who adored him.”
Super Cycling will dedicate a show to Stander on January 15 (SS6, from 7pm).
A number of memorial rides have already been arranged for Stander with more to follow.
Today, cyclists will meet at 6pm at the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Bompas in Johannesburg for a ride into the city.
Also today, in Cape Town, cyclists will gather at the GP Circle at 6pm for a one-hour ride.
At Unity Park in George, cyclists will stage a ride from 6pm.
Tomorrow there will be a ride starting at the corner of De Beer and Juta Streets in Braamfontein at 8pm.
In Durban, also at 8pm tomorrow, cyclists will gather at Moses Mabhida for a ride in honour of their hometown hero.
