Tears and tributes for Burry

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Meghann Paul ( family friend) comforts Cherise Stander (wife) as her father Andre Taylor looks on at a memorial ride at Shelly Beach Picture: Shelley Kjonstad

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Durban - The South Coast roads along which Burry Stander honed his Olympic talent and where he and his wife, Cherise, pedalling together were a familiar sight, came to a standstill yesterday as hundreds of cyclists paid tribute to the star athlete.

The memorial ride was held in honour of the 25-year-old, who died when he was hit by a minibus taxi last week. Stander had been on a training ride.

 In the wake of the Olympic athlete’s death, cyclists have called on the government to implement and enforce a “1.5-metre passing rule” for cars overtaking cyclists.

“We need to get this law passed so all vehicles give cyclists a 1.5m berth. When there is an accident, it means a law was broken,” said Andrew McLean, founder of the Cycle Lab retail stores and co-host of SuperSport’s SuperCycling show. But cyclists had to obey the rules of the road and wear protective gear.

Tim Brink, the editor of the cycling magazine Ride, agreed that the 1.5-m rule needed publicity and called for it to be included in the driving licence test.

 Patricia Seager, whose husband, Allan, had been cycling on Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue when he died in a hit-and-run accident in June 2008, said it had taken three years for the court case to be wrapped up. The driver was acquitted.

JC van Tonder, 12, wearing the South African shirt given to him by Burry Stander on his return from the Beijing Olympics, is comforted by the cyclists mother, Mandie, at the memorial ride on the South Coast to honour the Olympic athletes memory. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad

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 “It is definitely not taken seriously,” said Seager.

Yesterday, Mandie Stander, with “Burry’s mom” embroidered on her shirt, led the procession down Marine Drive, Shelly Beach.

A bicycle, spray-painted white, was left at the site of the accident. This, Duane Stander, the second of the three Stander brothers, explained, was the traditional way the cycling fraternity paid its respects.

“The biggest thing for us at this stage is that it helps us cope. We are all experiencing immense pain.

“Burry, in his wildest dreams, couldn’t have imagined how many people he affected,” he said.

It was his younger brother’s positive attitude, determination and friendliness he had admired, Duane said.

Cyclists take part in the Burry Stander memorial ride at Shelly Beach. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad

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The family had enjoyed spending Christmas together, he said.

“We played golf and went fishing,” he added.

Roger Paine, who helped the grieving family organise yesterday’s ride, said Burry had not thought himself better than anyone else.

Paine spoke of the shock on hearing that the top cyclist had died. He had passed him an hour earlier on the road from Port Edward, and Stander had shouted, “See you later!”

Mountain biker and fellow Olympic cyclist Candice Neethling said: “I was lucky to have had him as a friend.”

JC van Tonder, 12, wore the official South African jersey yesterday that Stander had brought back for him from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I can’t explain it,” JC said when asked what Stander was like, tears welling.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula attended the memorial ride and promised that the Burry Stander Foundation would have government support and that Stander’s legacy would endure.

“There will never be another Burry Stander… We have lost a hero, a great South African, a great athlete,” Mbalula said.

Police spokesman Jay Naicker said the name of the 25-year-old taxi driver charged with Stander’s death would not be released until he had formally pleaded in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court today.

Meanwhile, in Richards Bay, police were dealing with another accident involving a cyclist.

 Travishka Reddy, 22, was critically injured when a vehicle crashed into her as she was cycling along the East Coast Arterial Road in the town on Saturday.

Netcare spokesman Chris Botha said Reddy had received injuries to most of her body.

A case of reckless and negligent driving was being investigated.

The Mercury