Sarah Sturm and Zach Calton Top 2025 Crusher in the Tushar – Report, Results, and Photos

July 16, 2025

919

BEAVER, Utah (July 12, 2025) – The 2025 Crusher in the Tushar was held on July 12 in the Tushar Mountains in Beaver, Utah. The 13th annual event, started by Utah legend Burke Swindlehurst and now promoted by Life Time, saw 800 participants from 33 states and 7 countries across the various fields. The event returned after being cancelled in 2024 due to wildfires. This year’s event had an $8500 purse that was divided evenly among the men’s and women’s pro fields. The keystone event is a 69.9 mile, 10400′ of climbing, 60% gravel jaunt through the Tushars. The event also introduced the 37 mile Half Crushed option with 6300′ of climbing to give participants a less intense option. The race starts in Beaver, Utah and finishes at the Eagle Point Ski Resort.

Race Recap:

Zach Calton on his way to winning the Pro Men’s category. Scenes from the 2025 Crusher in the Tushar, Beaver, Utah. Photo courtesy Crusher in the Tushar

In the men’s race, Zach Calton (Ventum – Shimano) quieted all challengers to take the win. He described his race:

“We rolled up the pavement start easy. A one-man break (Rob Smallman) went up the road. Once we turn off the main highway and start the initial climb proper 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 so I was confident I could put the hurt on and I was lucky to have great legs on the day.

I looked back every few minutes and found a smaller and smaller group in tow. Eventually a 3-man group – myself, Torbjørn, and Jake Allen – established a solid gap. As the climb flattens out near the top, I was less keen to pull with the increased draft benefit and Jake and Torbjørn didn’t seem anxious to either.

Henry Nelson and Nathan Spratt ended up closing the gap as we crested the top before dropping down the Col de Crush.

Henry and Torbjørn pushed the descent pretty hard and I followed. We dropped Jake and Nathan there. We rolled an easy tempo around to Circleville, as we got onto Sarlacc Pit Nathan bridged back up.

Once on the Pit, I hit it hard again and Torbjørn and Henry followed. Nathan was undoubtedly tired from the time in the wind while we had a group of 3.

We had agreed pre-race to stop at aid 4 after the Pit. Torbjørn and I had established a 10-15 second gap on Henry so I quickly filled a bottle and got out of there with a small gap on the other 2.

Torbjørn bridged up on the road but I was able to get a gap about 1/4 up the Col. It slowly expanded to 2 minutes as we crested the Col de Crush and then I soloed from there maintaining that 2 minutes to the finish.

Next for me is the Leadville 100 MTB where I hope to get a podium finish.”

In the women’s race, Sarah Sturm attacked on the Col du Crush and soloed to the finish. Emma Langley and Anna Gibson finished second and third respectively.