Today Burry Stander had his chance to show the cycling world just what he was made of. The MTB World Championships are in Val di Sole, Italy - a valley nestled in the Italian Alps. The scenery is beautiful and the fans are easily excited. The U23 XC course was filled with those excited fans making noise with cowbells and air horns. All of the excitement reached the riders and nervousness settled in. Burry didn't need a reason to be nervous, he has had his best season ever as a 20 year-old XC rider. As the race started, Burry held the lead against three fast Swiss riders for four of the first laps. Burry attacked early as he knew if he let all Swiss riders get in front together, he would have no chance at the win. This amazing lead worked against him as he tired at the end of the race. Although he led for four of the runs, he fell behind in the last two and succumbed to the fast Swiss rider, Nino Schuter. The second place and silver medal went to a well deserving Stander.

Read it in Burry's own words:

I came to Italy with some big pressure for the World Championships.  Mostly from myself, and there is something different about this event.  You only have one shot every year so you really have to make it count.

Val di Sole is an area consisting of a bunch of small towns in this long valley, and each of them played their own part in hosting the 2008 Worlds.  The race took place in a town called Commezzadura.  The 6.4km of track consisted of 3 steep climbs followed by some really tech descents.  All in all a sweet track that took like 17minutes to race.

I felt good all week, and on Friday I hit the start line with some good morale.  I had a solid start and lead up the first climb.  Only Nino could follow and another Swiss was chasing nearby in third.  Because of this I had to do all of the work at the front as Nino was content to either attack me or sit on my wheel.  I had good legs and by the 4th lap I had built up a safe margin.  Nino started attacking at this point, and I could feel my legs starting to crack and was holding on in the hope that he would tire as well.  This didn’t happen, and I had to let go on the penultimate lap up the last climb.  From here on out I just rode smoothly in for second place.  I’ve waited a long time for this medal, so I’m stoked it has finally come.  This week I get some off time in Italy hanging with some great people and riding fun trails.

Ciao,

Burry

 

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