Skip to content
TIER 1

Crusher in the Tushar

Beaver, Utah · Status: CANCELLED for 2026 (Cottonwood Fire, announced June 28, 2026); 2027 status unknown, pending forest/infrastructure rehabilitation

VERDICT The climber's gravel race—where thin air separates pretenders from contenders.

TAKING A BREAK
The 2026 edition was cancelled by wildfire, and the race's return depends on forest recovery. The climbing it demands hasn't gone anywhere.
89
LAB SCORE
—
RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

Relentless vertical. You climb for 35 miles, then descend for 35 miles.[1]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS3/5LENGTH3/5TECHNICAL4/5ELEVATION5/5CLIMATE4/5ALTITUDE5/5ADVENTURE5/5 29/35
Course Profile
How the scoring works →
[01]

Course Overview

The toughest 70 miles on the planet. 10,000ft of climbing. Finish at 10,400ft elevation.

69.9 mi
Distance
10,000 ft
Elevation
Beaver, Utah
Location
Status: CANCELLED for 2026 (Cottonwood Fire, announced June 28, 2026); 2027 status unknown, pending forest/infrastructure rehabilitation
Date
~500+
Field Size
$200
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
MORE IN UTAH: Belgian Waffle Ride Cedar City · BWR Utah (Belgian Waffle Ride Utah) · Lauf True Grit Gravel Epic
Facts & History

Created by former pro cyclist Burke Swindlehurst: 'The ultimate race—too much dirt for road bike, too much road for mountain bike. If anyone could even finish it, they would be absolutely crushed.' 20 years of route development. 69 miles, 10,500 ft vertical = crushing profile. Starts historic downtown Beaver, finishes at Eagle Point Resort upper lodge (10,500 ft). 40% tarmac / 60% dirt & gravel. Founded in 2011. By Burke Swindlehurst.

Reputation: The climber's gravel race. Where road fitness meets mountain bike descending.

Started as a 70-mile gravel/road hybrid before gravel racing exploded
Was part of Life Time Grand Prix in 2024 (dropped for 2025+)
Known for its pro-level competition
2026: Cancelled due to the Cottonwood Fire (70,000+ acres, human-caused, 0% contained at time of cancellation announcement June 28, 2026) — not the race's first wildfire-driven cancellation
[03]

The Course

Gravel cyclist descending dirt road on Col de Crush mountain pass with green hillsides and mountain views in Utah - Crusher in the Tushar - Beaver, UtahPhoto: YouTube / Gravel Cyclist
First-person view of gravel road winding through forested valley with evergreen trees on both sides during race - Crusher in the Tushar - Beaver, UtahPhoto: YouTube / Gravel Cyclist

Relentless vertical. You climb for 35 miles, then descend for 35 miles. Simple math, brutal execution.

Signature challenge: The altitude. 10,000+ feet average means your power is down 10-15%. Plan accordingly.

11
MILE
First Dirt Sector
Challenging 21-mile climb begins. The first dirt sector where elevation gain starts in earnest. Technical climbing through Fishlake National Forest.
31
MILE
The Big Drop
Descent of switchbacks. Washboard-filled terrain. Loses 4,000 feet in 10 miles. Technical descending that tests your focus and bike handling.
46
MILE
Doc Springs Road
'Deceivingly uphill, rutted, and at times loose and sandy.' The time of reckoning. Doubles back toward Circleville. Mental challenge after Big Drop.
65
MILE
Final Climb to Eagle Point
1,000 feet climb on pavement to 10,500 ft finish. Eagle Point upper lodge awaits. Post-race lunch at summit. 'Your first Crusher is the hardest, and then they just keep getting harder after that.'
RIDERS REPORT
Valley section between towns
The mentally hardest part of the race - mind numbing riding down in the valley, windy conditions where riders get caught out alone.
Final climb
A nasty little pitch at the end that reduces riders to granny gear, with flies buzzing around because you're going so slow. Half to three-quarters mile of brutal climbing to finish.
A lot of loose gnarly gravel throughout the course that challenges riders on the climbs and technical sections.
The final climb is so steep it reduces experienced riders to granny gear, going slow enough that flies can land on you.
[04]

From the Field

I don't think there's another event on the planet that packs more suffering on a per mile basis than this event. It kind of throws the kitchen sink at you out there - the elevation gain, the altitude, the heat, the surfaces you're going to encounter.

Life Time Grand Prix · 151.2K views

Mentally this is the hardest time of the race so far, right down in the valley between the towns, windy, got caught out here by myself. It's going slow enough now that the flies can kind of buzz around and land on me, kind of waiting for the buzzards to start circling up above.

Jason White · 1.8K views

Don't forget your brew bracelet - you need it to get your post-race meal. I forgot mine so we're going to see how much mercy these guys have.

Jason White · 1.8K views

I always describe cycling as this traveling circus and a series like this really feels like it. You start seeing the same people at the same races and it's kind of nice.

Life Time Grand Prix · 151.2K views
Call of a Life Time Season 1 - Episode 3: Crusher in the Tushar (Women’s Race)
Life Time Grand Prix · 151.2K views · 30:46
2017 Crusher in the Tushar - Beaver, Utah, USA - The Gravel Race at Altitude
Gravel Cyclist · 14.6K views · 9:56
Crusher in the Tushar
Jason White · 1.8K views · 11:59
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced Crusher in the Tushar? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

June 28, 2026 CRUSHER IN THE TUSHAR
RIDERS REPORT
Riders debating between 38mm tires, with some choosing gum wall tires as the preferred option for the course conditions.
[09]

Race Logistics

Airport
Salt Lake City (SLC) - 3+ hours to Beaver
Lodging
Beaver has limited hotels. Book early. Consider Cedar City (45 min south) for more options.
Food
Pack essentials. Beaver is a small town with limited options.
Packet Pickup
Friday evening in Beaver. Expo is intimate but covers essentials.
Parking
Start area parking is manageable. Arrive 60+ minutes early for setup.
RIDERS REPORT
The valley section between towns is the mentally hardest part - be prepared for mind-numbing riding in windy conditions where you can get isolated.
Don't forget your brew bracelet - you need it to get your post-race meal.
OFFICIAL SITE
[10]

Tire Picks

45mmTECHNICAL
1
Schwalbe G-One Bite
45mm · $70 · 38W
Technical terrain dominator. Aggressive grip when the course gets rowdy.
2
Maxxis Reaver
45mm · $80 · 35W
Technical all-rounder. EXO+ casing shrugs off rocks and roots.
3
WTB Resolute
42mm · $65 · 36W
Aggressive chevron tread. Fast center with confident cornering.
FULL TIRE GUIDE & PRESSURE TABLE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

[—]

Similar Races

T1 Leadville Trail 100 MTB Leadville, Colorado · 100 mi · 89/100 T1 Belgian Waffle Ride Del Mar, California · 107 mi · 87/100 T1 SBT GRVL Steamboat Springs, Colorado · 108 mi · 86/100 T1 Sea Otter Classic Gravel Monterey, California · 89 mi · 80/100 T1 Rebecca's Private Idaho Ketchum, Idaho · 104 mi · 80/100 T1 Belgian Waffle Ride Cedar City Cedar City, Utah · 117 mi · 81/100
[—]

Frequently Asked Questions

Confirm brutal heat swings - temperatures hit 95°F in the valleys while riders face potential "rain/snow mix up top." One rider warns: "It was really hot down in the valley and even tho there were aid stations, I saw a few riders run out of water between them." The desert-to-alpine transition creates multiple climate zones in one race.[6]

Life Time runs tight logistics with a strict 10:00 AM cutoff at mile 27 - miss it and you're done. Field size caps at 600-800 riders with registration opening in January and selling out fast. The mountain-top finish at Eagle Point requires shuttle coordination that gets complex when slower riders are still grinding up Col d'Crush late in the day.[5]

Two 10,000-foot mountain passes, a 4,000-foot plunge through the Big Drop, and a mountain-top finish above the clouds create proper expedition racing. Burke Swindlehurst's course throws "the proverbial 'kitchen sink'" at riders - from smooth hardpack to "washboards severe enough to rattle tooth fillings loose." It's earned expedition status through terrain variety alone.[6]

Founded by Burke Swindlehurst and formerly part of the Life Time Grand Prix, drawing elite fields including Keegan Swenson's sub-4-hour course record. Zach Calton's race report shows the tactical racing: "I went to the front and kept a hard tempo. I knew I was in good shape and had good preparation for this course and the altitude." The competitive depth validates its "toughest 70 miles" reputation.[8]

If you love climbing and want a race that rewards it, absolutely. If you're a diesel-engine flat-lander, consider something else. The altitude alone makes this a specialist's race.

[11]

Sources & Citations

Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.

  1. Route Maps RideWithGPS Routeridewithgps.com/routes/32869577
  2. Other Sources Blogblog.bikeflights.com/post/689784595694141441/crusher-in-t...
  3. Other Sources Granfondodailynewsgranfondodailynews.com/2025/07/16/crusher-tushar-results-...
  4. Other Sources Graveleventsgravelevents.com/event/crusher-in-the-tushar/
  5. Other Sources Rouvyrouvy.com/life-time/crusher-in-the-tushar
  6. Media & Press CX Magazinewww.cxmagazine.com/interview-burke-swindlehurst-crusher-t...
  7. Other Sources Cyclingnewswww.cyclingnews.com/races/crusher-in-the-tushar-2025/elit...
  8. Other Sources Cyclingwestwww.cyclingwest.com/racing/gravel-racing/sarah-sturm-and-...
  9. Media & Press Gravel Cyclistwww.gravelcyclist.com/videos/raw-crusher-in-the-tushar-20...
  10. Other Sources Paigepoweredwww.paigepowered.com/post/crusher-in-the-tushar-race-recap-1
  11. Community Redditwww.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/1dkdj6g/crusher_i...
  12. Community Redditwww.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/bmb53z/anyone_don...
  13. Community TrainerRoadwww.trainerroad.com/forum/t/crusher-in-the-tushar-2022/68292
  14. Community velo.outsideonline.com: Gravel Race Organizers Balk At The Request For More Rulesvelo.outsideonline.com/news/gravel/gravel-race-organizers...

Last updated September 2026