Burry Stander killed in training crash

Olympic cyclist Burry Stander has been killed in a training crash in his native South Africa.

The London 2012 rider was killed when he collided with a taxi while mountain biking around the town of Shelly Beach.

Stander, a former Under-19 and Under-23 world champion, is a two-time Olympian having represented his country at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has paid tribute to the rider in a statement.

"Burry was the epitome of an Olympic athlete; talented, ultra-competitive but at the same time extremely humble and a true gentleman," said president Gideon Sam.

Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius added on Twitter: "Absolutely devastated by the tragic news of Burry Stander's passing. A South African icon and sporting great. RIP my friend."

Burry, who came in fifth in London 2012, was 25 years old.