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Gallery: Taming the 2018 Crusher in the Tushar

A full field of 600 riders raced the Crusher in the Tushar, a 70-mile race that features plenty of off-road sections.

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Crusher — Racers got their rigs ready to crush. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Saving his spot. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — There was a chill vibe in Beaver, Utah before the 8 a.m. start. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Bad Brad Wheeler, the Crusher DJ and announcer spinnin’ the tunes at the start. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Rebecca Rusch made her inaugural start at the Crusher in 2018. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — The Crustache Contest, the competition within the race at the Crusher, looked to be a sure win for Josh McCarrel. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — The Crusher in the Tushar field is capped at 600 racers and is always at capacity. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Racers headed out of Beaver at the start of the race. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — The age-category peloton made its way up the paved canyon roads at the start of the race. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Some of the men’s 45+ category racers got in an early break in the canyon, passing the pro men’s field. Many of the pro women jumped onto their train, and as they hit the switchbacks Karen Jarchow and Breanne Nalder attacked the mixed field. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — As they say … pavement ends, party begins! Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — A few miles onto the dirt, the pro men’s field was shattered. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Torrential downpours and hail in the five days leading up to The Crusher made dirt conditions exceptionally challenging on the day. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — “My heart is full of gravel.” Lauren De Crescenzo was on a mission to win the 2018 Crusher in the Tushar. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — There were plenty of high fives for VeloNews’s Chris Case from the local kids as he raced through the Tushar Mountains. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Rebecca Rusch racing with a smile and crushing the Legends category. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Why is it that the tandems always seem to be having the most fun? Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — “Queen of Gravel” Alison Tetrick finished fifth at the Crusher. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Hero dirt. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Breanne Nalder finished third. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Some opted for fatter tires. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Karen Jarchow kept a smile on her face all day long. Jarchow placed second in the pro women’s field. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Amity Gregg was a contender for the Crusher podium all day. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Bombing the Col d’ Crush. Enough said. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Race promoter Burke Swindlehurst drove the lead car up the Col d’ Crush. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Cortlan Brown (Hangar 15) went on a 30-mile solo breakaway in the men’s pro field. He was caught and passed by winner Zach Calton a mile into the Col d’ Crush climb. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Jamie Driscoll powered through the Sarlacc Pit. He finished second at this year’s Crusher. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Sarlacc Pit volunteers and The Dab. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — 21-year-old Zach Calton couldn’t help but smile as he won the KOM on the summit of the Col d’ Crush. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Alex Grant used every ounce of his power to chase Zach Calton up the Col d’ Crush. He finished third. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Water bottles fell victim to the Col d’ Crush descent. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Lauren De Crescenzo gave a thumbs up when she heard the time split: six minutes with 10 miles to go. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Ned Overend raced through the Sarlacc Pit. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Zach Calton took a surprise win at the eighth edition of the Crusher. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Battle wounds. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Conditions changed to rain storms and cool temps for the mid-pack riders. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Two and a half years after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a crash at the San Dimas Stage Race, Lauren De Crescenzo (DNA Cycling) won the women’s pro race at the Crusher.

Crusher — CRUSHED! Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Amity Gregg battled all day in the women’s pro race. At one point on the Col d’ Crush climb, she sat second. She eventually finished fourth. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Crusher bikes. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Retired pro roadies unite: a group hug with Alison Tetrick, Lauren De Crescenzo, Breanne Nalder, and Mandy Heinz after the race. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Cycling legends Rebecca Rusch and Ned Overend raced the Crusher for the first time. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — Ned Overend hanging out after the race. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

Crusher — The goods. Photo: Catherine Fegan-Kim

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