Burry Stander to hit the 2012 Olympic Games with his top form
Burry Stander is training hard for the 2012 Olympic Games and he is optimistic to bag the gold medal. The cyclist has officially declared his priorities for the season ahead, with London’s event on the top of his favourites list.
The 24-year-old won the South African and African mountain bike championships and is considered to be one of the top South African to dominate the mega event.
He finished 15th at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games at the cross country mountain bike event.
The 2012 London Olympics are scheduled in Essex on August 12, 2012, as all the top riders across the globe are training hard to claim the most prestigious event of cycling.
Stander commented about his objectives for the season ahead, “My main goal for 2012 is the London Olympics. Everything else is secondary, I will once again team up with Christoph (Sauser) for the Cape Epic to defend our title, but that's the only pre-Olympics
deviation I'll make”.
“I will do one marathon and one short stage race to prepare for the Cape Epic, but the rest of the time I'll be focused only on cross country,” he continued.
The cross country category is the only discipline included at the Olympics. The contest comprises of a lap-racing format which lasts for about one hour and 45 minutes. Only the toughest of the riders can survive such an intense competition.
The stage and the marathon racing is mainly a test of the stamina as it takes about 4-5 hours to complete.
Stander will also be seen in action at the upcoming UCI World Cup Cascades at the Pietermaritzburg, scheduled on March 17-18.
Burry achieved the sixth position at the UCI rider rankings of 2011. He is looking ahead to boost his performance in the season ahead.
Stander stated that he is planning the 2012 season very carefully and will only ride the races that will ensure his best fitness before the Olympics.
He is currently working with Dr Swart, an experienced cycling coach and also a past mountain bike racer. Burry stated that his new coach is of great help and he is making full use of the experience and knowledge that Swart has gathered over the years.
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