Gallery: A look back at Crusher in the Tushar 2016

The annual Crusher in the Tushar race is a leg-breaking, high-altitude adventure that takes place outside Beaver, Utah and this year’s event, the sixth edition, ran on July 9. The challenging and scenic course runs 70 miles over paved and unpaved roads in the remote reaches of the Tushar mountains and the Fishlake National Forest. Credit: Christopher See

The race begins on pavement, and the women’s elite field rolls along outside Beaver on the way to the first climb of the day. This year’s field included past winner and former national road champion Robin Farina (Panaracer-Stan’s NoTubes), past podium-finishers Mindy McCutcheon (DNA Racing-Cotton Sox) and Mindy Caruso (Nero Veloce), and former IronMan triathlete Rhae Shaw, who finished second at the Crusher in 2014. Credit: Christopher See

The pavement soon turns to dirt, and the elite men’s field begins the first climb of the day. Rob Squire (Hincapie-Holowesko) who won the 2015 Crusher, rides at the front of the group. This year’s race brought out a talented field that included mountain bike legend Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD), cyclocross racer Jamey Driscoll (Raleigh-Clément), and road racer Josh Berry (Jelly Belly-Maxxis), who’s returning to racing after an early season injury. Credit: Cathy Fegan-Kim

The men’s field split on the first climb and a lead group of nine riders formed. Here, Squire, Wells, and Michael Burleigh (Canyon Bikes-Shimano) drive the pace up the first climb. Credit: Cathy Fegan-Kim

In the women’s race, the pace immediately heated up as the road turned up and splits opened up in the group. Farina and McCutcheon rode away from the field to take an early lead. Credit: Cathy Fegan-Kim

As they descended the Col d’Crush the men’s race splintered, but a group of a dozen riders reformed in the flat roads around Circleville. The deep sand of the Sarlac Pit (pictured here) always forces a selection, and this year proved no different. Jason Siegle, who eventually finished 15th, races solo through the Sarlac Pit. Credit: Christopher See

Endurance racer Jay Petervary (Salsa-WTB) climbs out of the Sarlac Pit. Petervary has won the Tour Divide, Iditabike, and once did a self-supported Race Across America. He finished this year’s Crusher in 5:15 to take 28th. Credit: Christopher See

Crusher veteran Mindy Caruso climbs out of the Sarlac Pit on a lonely chase behind Farina and McCutcheon. Caruso lost contact with the two leaders on the first climb of the day and spent the rest of the race chasing alone behind them. Credit Christopher See

The battle between Farina and McCutcheon for the women’s title came to a head on the Col d’Crush. McCutcheon rode a hard tempo and Farina simply couldn’t follow. As the climb wore on, the gap widened until McCutcheon was alone at the front. Credit: Christopher See

Farina makes her way up the Col d’Crush behind the flying McCutcheon, while a pair of masters racers look on. Credit: Christopher See

With Squire holding his lead up ahead, Wells races up the Crusher’s final climb to the Eagle Point ski resort. Credit: Cathy Fegan-Kim

The Crusher finishes with a series of heavy rollers. Afraid that Farina is right behind her, McCutcheon hammers along the high-altitude gravel roads toward the finish. By this point, Farina was more than three minutes behind the hard-charging leader. Credit: Christopher See

The pro men’s podium celebrates the end of a long day in the saddle. Rob Squire won ahead of Todd Wells and Michael Burleigh. Josh Berry took fourth and Jamey Driscoll, fourth. Credit: Cathy Fegan-Kim