Welcome to Episode 3 of OffRoad InRoads presented by Maxxis Factory Racing. In this episode we climb into the stories from the "Toughest 69 miles on the Planet", Crusher in the Tusher. Crusher is a point to point gravel race that starts in the small town of Beaver, Utah and climbs up, down, through and back up to ultimately finish at Eagle Point Resort after more than 3000 meters (10000 feet) of elevation gain over the day. The race is contested by pros and amateurs alike, inspiring more than a little fear in all those who toe the line. With the best off-road cyclists on the continent contesting the event as part of the LifeTime Grand Prix, the competition was next-level and the stories from the day, priceless.
The episode kicks off with a chat with our co-host Haley Smith on her day at Tusher, which was one of those "extra good" days on the bike that culminated in a win. Next, Lespy chatted with Sarah Sturm on her take on the GP, the community and comaraderie surrounding this series, and the evolution of gravel. Then Haley and Peter Stetina dove into his race at Tushar, coming in as the defending champ, and what has changed on the scene with the advent of the GP. Next, Lespy and fellow mountain biker Stephan Davoust chat about his background, the day at Tushar and all the learnings that come with taking on the unique set of challenges the LTGP offers. Finally, Haley chats with Rose Grant about the meaning of competition, how to identify and value personal wins, and the challenges of long-term athletic goal pursuit. Enjoy the show!
Time Stamps:
Sarah Sturm - 11:02
Peter Stetina - 38:02
Stephan Davoust - 59:06
Rose Grant: 1:18:59