| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1978-03-01) 1 March 1978 (age 46) Dandenong, Victoria, Australia |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Downhill and four cross mountain biking |
| Role | Rider |
| Professional team | |
| 2008-present | Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense Cycle |
Chris Kovarik (born 1 March 1978, 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
References
- "Chain". Reaction Cycles/Intense Cycle's MTB Race team. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- "Results - Mountain Bike 2013". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- "Downhill Final Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- "2008 UCI Mountain Bike Results". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2010.