# 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 is a multiple Australian national champion and multiple World Cup winner.

## 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.
In 2008 Kovarik married teammate and fellow downhill mountain Bike rider, Canadian Claire Buchar.
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