Chris Kovarik

Chris Kovarik (born 1 March 1978 in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian professional racing cyclist specialising in downhill mountain biking and four cross mountain bike racing. He has earned the title of Australian national champion multiple times and he also won multiple World Cups.

Cycling career Kovarik started competitive cycling when he was 17 years old and has been a member of the Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense Cycle's MTB Race team since its creation in 2008. Kovarik was joined by fellow Intense rider Finland's Matti Lehikoinen for the 2010 race season.

In 2004, Kovarik shattered his ankle, broke the tibia on the same leg and spent 4½ months with a metal cage around his leg, leading to 7 months off the bike and missing the 2004 World Cup/Championship season. At the time, doctors had said that he may never ride again, however, he went on to place 5th in the World Championships in New Zealand in 2005.

Chris won the Australian National Downhill Championships in January 2010 at the SRAM Corporation Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide.

Kovarik's career highlights include: 2000 - Australian National Champ 2001 - Australian National Champ 2002 - Australian National Champ 2002 - 1st World Cup : Fort William (won by 14 secs) 2005 - 5th World Championships : New Zealand 2006 - 1st World Cup : Mont Saint Anne

Major wins

1998 DH MTB National Series 1st - Round VIC 2nd - Round NSW

1999 1st DH MTB Norba Series Mammoth Mountain USA DH Norba Series 1st - Deer Valley USA 2nd - Mount Snow USA DH MTB World Cup 2nd - USA 10th - USA DH MTB Australian Titles 2nd - VIC 3rd - NSW 2nd DH MTB National Series Round VIC

2000 1st DH MTB Australian Titles QLD 1st DH MTB Norba Series Round USA DH MTB National Series 1st - Round QLD 1st - Round VIC 2nd DH MTB Norba Series Round USA 3rd DL MTB National Series Round VIC 7th DH MTB World Cup 8th DH MTB World Cup USA 10th DH MTB World Championships ESP 11th DH MTB World Cup CAN

2001 1st DH MTB Australian Titles VIC 1st DH MTB World Cup CAN 1st DH MTB National Series Round VIC DH MTB World Cup 2nd - CAN 2nd - FRA 4th - CAN 4th - #1 DH MTB Norba 3rd - Series #1 USA 3rd - Series #3 USA 5th - Series 2 USA 4th DH MTB World Championships USA 2002 DH MTB World Cup 1st - USA 1st - GBR 1st - SLO 8th - FRA 9th - CAN 1st DH MTB Australian Titles NSW 1st DH MTB Championships Series USA 3rd DH MTB World Championships AUT 3rd DH MTB National Points Series GBR 4th National MTB Series USA 5th DH MTB Mercury Sea Otter Classic USA 5th 4X MTB Mercury Sea Otter Classic USA 17th 4X MTB World Championships AUT

2003 1st DH Norba Series #2 USA 2nd DH MTB World Cup FRA 4X Norba 2nd - Series #3 USA 5th - Series #2 USA 4th DH MTB World Championships SUI 6th DH MTB World Cup GBR

2005 DH MTB World Cup 2nd - #3 AUT 3rd - #6 USA 4th - #8 GBR 4th - #2 GER 5th - #4 CAN 17th - Championships ITA 41st - #7 ITA 8th DH Australian MTB Championships VIC 9th 4X MTB World Cup #6 USA 11th 4X MTB World Cup #4 CAN

2006 DH MTB World Cup 1st - #4 CAN 5th - Championships NZL 5th - #3 GER 8th - #1 ESP 9th - #6 AU 15th - #5 BRA 20th - #4 SCO 3rd 4X MTB World Cup #4 SCO 3rd Australian DH MTB Championships VIC 49th 4X MTB World Cup #1 ESP

2007 7th 4X MTB World Cup #4 AUT DH MTB World Cup 23rd - #4 AUT 38th - #1 ESP 86th DH MTB World Championships GBR

2008 6th MTB World Cup DH #2 Andorra 12th DH MTB World Championships ITA