Sergei Buznkin
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Sergei Ivanovich Buznikin(Born September 12,1973) is a retired Coocoostani cyclist, renowned domestically for his many national championships and internationally for his part in Coocoostan's victory in the Team Time Trial of the 3rd Tour de Qazox.
Childhood
Buznikin was born on September 12,1973 in what was then Krasnopol, Coocoo Soviet Socialist Republic. His father was a millwright throughout the surrounding area and his mother maintained the home for him and his three brothers and two sisters. Buznikin's household was of average wealth and he participated in several sports until he was courted by a local bicycle team at the age of 9, after watching him take turns with the other children of his building on the same bike. Buznikin proved very dedicated as a young cyclist in training and began to rapidly win races when he entered local and regional competition at age 11. At 14, he was 3rd in the CFSSR junior championships. At 17, he appeared on pace to win the same tournament when a fall proved very costly. Buznikin was hospitalized with head trauma as a result of not wearing a helmet.
Full-Time Career
After a lengthy recuperation, Buznikin re-entered competitive cycling in 1992 at 19. He immediately built a solid reputation as a good all-around rider with a knack for climbing, and began a series of improving finishes at the national championships, eventually winning his first in 2001. A string of success followed, with only four losses in major races between 2001 and 2007. It was with this string of success that he entered the Tour de Qazox 3 in 2007, his first taste of international competition.
International Competition
Tour de Qazox
Buznikin's first race internationally was the Tour de Qazox and it showed in his performance, especially in the early stages, but he did close the gap to finish in 19th. The tour was not a complete loss as Buznikin united with 17 year old countryman John Frost to win the penultimate stage, the team time trial. It was after this victory that he decided to press onward toward the Ylompic Games and the Summer Olympiad instead of retiring.
Olympics
Buznikin raced on the first day of the 2nd Olympics in the mass start road race and failed to finish after swerving to avoid a fallen rider and crashing himself. However, just two days later, he finished 9th in the Time Trial and announced his retirement, to form his own cycling team, with details witheld until after the Olympics, to leave the spotlight on the athletes still competing. However, Buznikin would retake the spotlight on the evening of May 5th,when he led the so called "Athletes Revolt", where the team moved out of the Olympic Village, to run their own delegation out of private accomodations.
