South African cross-country rider Burry Stander has joined GT Bicycles' 2006 MTB team. Stander has been making a name for himself as a top junior rider in his homeland, winning the junior national title for the last three years. In 2005, Stander took first at the junior category in cross-country and short track races at the Sandpoint NORBA round, and won junior short track at the Snowmass NORBA. 2006 will be his first year as a pro.
"My highlights in 2005 were definitely the three NORBA Junior races that I won on my first trip to the states," said Stander. "In 2006 I hope to finish in a Top-5 position in the NORBA STXC or XC Series."
"I'll be riding all the NORBAs, Sea Otter, Commonwealth Games, South African Champs and a few World Cups," he said. "The riding I like most is big climbs followed by long technical descents."
