Surban saddened by Stander’s death

CEBU’s top mountain biker Nino Surban is saddened by the death of South African Olympic mountain biker Burry Stander, who was killed last Thursday after being struck by a minibus while on a training ride in South Africa.

According Surban, a Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, he had great respect for Stander because of his humility despite winning several world championship titles and placing fifth during the 2012 Olympics games in London.

“I was able to meet him during the Langkawi 2011, and it was an honor being able to meet him personally and competed against him. He was very down to earth,” said Surban who managed to finish 16th overall and was the top seven Asian finisher in Langkawi.

Stander settled for second during that inaugural Langkawi International Bike Challenge in Malaysia last 2011, which was won by four-time Absa Cape Epic champion, Karl Platt of Germany.

“What happened to Stander is also an eye-opener to all cyclists. Although, he was following the traffic rules, we cannot control situations like that.

Accidents do happen. What I learned from it is to be extra careful while training on the road especially going for a long countryside road bike,” Surban said.

Surban is planning to compete in this year’s Asian Mountainbike Championship in China.