Buys aims for the top at UCI world champs

SOUTH African mountain bike rider Philip Buys has his sights set on a top finish at the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Championships, taking place in Pietermaritzburg in September.

“A world champs in your own country is rare and special. That will be my priority this year,” Buys said in a statement yesterday, while announcing his new sponsorship deal with the Scott Sports Group for 2013.

He had a stellar 2012 season, rising from 120th in the global rankings at the start of the year to 42nd in the world after the World Championships in Austria.

Having attended the funeral of fellow Olympic mountainbiker Burry Stander on Thursday, Buys said he wanted to honour his late compatriot by pursuing his career with the same passion and commitment that Stander showed.

“Burry set the pace and created a path for the rest of us to follow,” he said.

“He taught me so much in 2012, especially in the build-up to the Olympics.”

Buys represented South Africa, alongside Stander, in the cross country event at the London Games, finishing 35th.

Buys, who is the African mountain bike champion, will start his season competing in the Cycle Fest in Pietermaritzburg this weekend.

From May he focuses on the World Cup series in Europe and North America and will compete in marathons and stage races during the first third of 2013 as preparation for the World Championships.

“I will compete in the MTN National Marathon Series and I plan to give the Absa Cape Epic a good go too,” he said. — Sapa