Gravel Race Recap: 2019 Crusher in the Tushar
On July 13, 2019 more than 600 riders descended on Utah’s Tushar Mountains for the ninth annual Crusher in the Tushar. After one of the fastest races to date it was professionals Alex Grant (Gear Rush) and Evelyn Dong (Pivot-Stan’s No Tubes) who crossed the finish line first ahead of their respective Pro/Open fields that were particularly stacked this year with notable road cycling talent.
Alex Howes of EF Pro Cycling with race organizer Burke Swindlehurst. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
The Field
Those fields included recently crowned U.S. national road champions Alex Howes (Education First Pro Cycling), Travis McCabe (Floyd’s Pro Cycling) and Lance Haidet (Aevolo Cycling); along with Team Tibco’s Laurens Stephens and reigning “Queen of Kanza”, Amity Rockwell (complete list below).
The front group hung together early on some smooth Utah gravel. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
A Mountain biker prevails
On the men’s side the race once again came down to the aptly dubbed “Col d’Crush,” where Grant launched the decisive attack about halfway up the 2500 ft. climb, dropping fellow leaders Howes and Eddie Anderson (Axeon-Hagens Berman). 39 year-old Grant, a stalwart of the US professional mountain bike scene, sealed the deal on the Col’s steep upper switchbacks, opening up a lead of more than a minute and a half at the KOM/QOM line. Still 13 miles and several climbs from the finish line Grant continued to twist the knife, coming across three minutes before Eddie Anderson with Howes a further minute adrift.
Women Crush Too
The women’s race took shape when Lauren Stephens, who set a blistering early pace, was caught by Evelyn Dong with 10 miles to go, just after cresting the race’s notorious KOM/QOM. From there, Dong cruised to the win, opening up an eight minute gap over the course’s final miles. Stephens had done enough to secure second with Sarah Max (Argonaut-ENVE) following in third, three minutes later.
Coming fresh off the Hunt of the North, Lauren Stephens placed 2nd in the women’s race. PC: Angie Harker
For the win
“I definitely didn’t expect to win coming into this, having never ridden this course before,” said Dong. “It’s my first time. A lot of my training is like this, high altitude riding, this is what I love to do. In that sense, this pretty much feels like home.”
Getting lost in the Fishlake National Forest. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
“Two years I’ve done it I’ve had flats, two years I’ve had catastrophic bonks, and last year I had a pretty good year,” said Grant. “This is my sixth time racing, and I finally got the win. Honestly, this was like a dream, like ‘maybe I’ll win the Crusher someday, maybe not.’ I’m so pumped to win it, it was a super-fast day out there, tons of strong riders.”
Neil Shirley, who placed 14th overall, here slinging that new ENVE x Velocio kit. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
A Bad Dream
“Oh man, it was tough,” said freshly-crowned U.S. road champion Howes. “I was down at sea level before this, so coming back [to altitude], at the bottom of the Col d’Crush, I was feeling like a real champion, and then we hit a certain altitude and I just detonated. I’m actually pretty surprised I held on for third. It’s a funny thing at altitude, it’s like a bad dream. You just watch people ride away, and there’s just nothing you can do. Hats off to Eddie and Alex, both of them rode great.”
Alex Howes, here taking a water break, equated altitude to a bad dream. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
2019 Crusher in the Tushar Results
Men’s Top-10
Alex Grant - Gear Rush - 4:15:08
Eddie Anderson - Axeon-Hagens Berman
Alex Howes - EF Education First
James Driscoll - DNA Cycling-Mavic
Zach Calton - Summit Bike Club
TJ Eisenhart - Arapahoe- Hincapie
Lance Haidet - Aevolo Cycling
Gage Hecht - Aevolo Cycling
Travis McCabe - Floyd’s Pro Cycling
Luke Gangi-Wellman - Ascent Cycling
Women’s Top-10
Evelyn Dong - Pivot-Stan’s NoTubes - 5:02:14
Lauren Stephens - TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank
Sarah Max - Argonaut-ENVE
Amy Charity - DNA Pro Cycling Team
Aimee Vasse - Blue Factory Team
Mindy Caruso - Nero Veloce
Scotti Lechuga - Fearless Femme
Hanna Muegge - DNA Pro Cycling
Amity Rockwell - Easton-Overland
Kae Takeshita - Panaracer-Factor
Crusher Gravel Event Highlights
9th edition with more than 600 registered riders
69-mile route with 10,000 feet of climbing. Peak elevation of 10,344 feet
Departs from Beaver, UT and ends at Eagle Point Resort
Traverses the Tushar Mountains and Fishlake National Forest
Course highlight: the 8% average, 5-mile long Col d’ Crush KOM/QOM washboard climb that tops out just below 10,000 ft
We hope to see you in 2020, for the 10th annual Crusher. PC: Catherine Fegan-Kim
“I have crazy respect for anyone who crosses that finish line, and it’s seeing those folks achieve their goals that is the most rewarding part of this job.” ”
For more information visit www.tusharcrusher.com