Race guide · Tushar Mountains, Utah
Crusher in the Tushar: Training Guide
Seventy miles, ten thousand feet up — most of it climbing, much of it high.
The Crusher in the Tushar is a mixed-surface race in the Tushar Mountains above Beaver, Utah. The distance is modest by gravel standards — around 70 miles — but the climbing is not: the course stacks roughly ten thousand feet of ascent and tops out high in the mountains, so the ratio of climbing to distance is what defines the day.
It is, simply, a climber’s race held at altitude. Finishing well is less about covering ground and more about how long you can keep turning a hard, sustained effort uphill while the thin mountain air quietly takes the top off your power.
What makes it hard
- The climbing-to-distance ratio. You spend most of the day going up — there is very little flat to recover on, so the course wears down anyone who hasn’t trained sustained ascending.
- Altitude. The route climbs high into the Tushars, and the upper sections cost sea-level riders real watts and slow recovery from every effort.
- Mixed surfaces. Pavement and mountain dirt alternate, so pacing and equipment both have to work across two very different kinds of road.
- A single long final climb. The decisive ascent comes late, when you are already deep in the day — pacing the early climbs is what leaves you something for it.
What the day actually demands
The Crusher is a sustained climbing race. Your result tracks the steady power you can hold uphill for long stretches, and how much of it survives the altitude. This is not a punchy course you can fake with a good sprint — it rewards a deep aerobic engine and patience.
The riders who finish strong almost always paced the early climbs conservatively. Going into the red on the first long ascent feels fine at the time and ruins the final climb. Ride within yourself until late.
How to build toward it
Plan a 16 to 20 week build centered on long, sustained climbing efforts. The key sessions are extended tempo and threshold work on real climbs — 20-to-40-minute efforts at a steady, repeatable intensity, the kind you’ll hold for an hour in the mountains.
Your long rides should carry serious vertical, not just miles. If you can find a single long climb to repeat, use it. Rolling terrain does not prepare your legs or your head for a sustained ascent that lasts an hour or more.
Altitude and fueling
If you live near sea level, treat altitude as the biggest variable. Where logistics allow, riders either arrive several days early to begin adjusting or come in late to race ahead of the worst effects — either way, pace by feel up high rather than by your home power numbers.
Practice 60–90 grams of carbohydrate per hour on long climbing rides, and remember that appetite often fades at altitude and on steep efforts — favor fuel that goes down easily when you’re breathing hard. Check the official site for current aid-station and course details.
Equipment for a mixed-surface climb
Because the course mixes pavement and mountain dirt, gearing is the choice that matters most: many riders fit easier-than-usual gearing to spin the long, steep climbs without grinding their legs to a stop. Tire choice balances rolling speed on tarmac against grip on the dirt — err toward what keeps you comfortable on the climbs, since that is where the day is decided.
A sample build
A skeleton, not a prescription — the right plan flexes around your starting fitness, your weeks, and your life. Use it to picture the shape of the work.
Common questions
Is the Crusher in the Tushar harder than its distance suggests?
Yes. Seventy miles sounds short, but the course packs roughly ten thousand feet of climbing at altitude, with the decisive ascent coming late. Train sustained climbing and pace the early miles conservatively rather than treating it as a quick day.
How do I train for the altitude at the Crusher?
You can’t fully replicate it at sea level, but you can prepare everything else: build strong sustained climbing fitness, plan your arrival timing, hydrate well, and pace by feel up high. Expect your power to read lower at elevation and don’t chase sea-level numbers.
Course distance, elevation, and dates shift year to year. Always confirm the current year's details on the official event site — Crusher in the Tushar. This guide is general training information, not coaching advice tailored to you.
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