In a tightly fought race for the downhill title at the SRAM Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide, Australia Sunday, Chris Kovarik won his fourth national title while world number one, and pre-race favourite, Sam Hill crashed on the final corner just meters from the finish line.

Hill had set the fastest time in the qualifying round to be the last rider out of the start house and looked set to claim the title until it all came undone in sight of the line. Unscathed from the fall he got back up and crossed the line to finish fifth.

Having won the Australian title three years running, from 2000 to 2002, it was a pleasing return to the top step of the podium for Kovarik.

“Hard luck to Sam coming off on that last corner and giving it to me. I was just watching the times and think he would have had it by half a second (if he didn’t crash),”
 Kovarik said.

For a disappointed Hill it was just the beginning of his season long campaign to reclaim the rainbow jersey of world champion.