Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride California

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2024 Belgian Waffle Ride California

April 27 - 28, 2024

Welkom to the third and final stop of the Belgian Waffle Ride Tripel Crown of Gravel Series… The Grandaddy of them all, the 13th annual BWR CA.

Created only Euro-style Spring Classic on American soil, the BWR has grown in so many ways, yet it is once again being supported by the Lost Abbey Brewery, the coolest Belgian-inspired brewery anywhere west of Flanders. With the race venue hosted at the nearby North City in San Marcos, where the BWR Expo will have Draft Republic at the center of the festivities again! 

The 2023 Gravel World Championships in Italy fashioned their course with reference to this unique BWR course. Not to worry, not only will the race offer up the same type of insanity, challenge, and unparalleled experience that has made it notorious and noteworthy, the BWR at North City also offers a special final Kermesse Kross circuit that all riders will get to enjoy, tackle, or otherwise survive in order to get to the actual finish line. This final cross-style finish will give fans and riders an extra bit of fun in celebrating the survival of all three of the BWR course options.

The 2024 edition will draw way more world-class cyclists from around the globe than ever before, especially considering it will be the grand finale of the Tripel Crown of Gravel Series... many coming to take on this Monument of Gravel foe the first time, and many more just to partake in the unique challenge of the day they have come to relish. Riders coming to win have their work cut out for them, as the pro field is DEEP. 

This year everyone will get to share the same start line with one massive, mixed field taking off at once. There will be yet another new course to contend with hat will be more ‘rippable’ than the past few editions. Like last year, the routes will enjoy several of the new unroad features added for 2023, yet we’ve added new unroad sectors we have tried to permit for many, many years. 

The race has a growing cult following of fervent racers from cyclocross, road, unroad, and mountain biking that could be related to the BWR's stature in the now crowded event space of Gravel Racing, which wasn't a thing when the BWR took riders into the dirt on their road bikes all those years ago. It's important to note, the BWR was never set up to be a grinder event; it's a road race punctuated by severe terrain and 87-kilometers of Unroad riding, much of which some riders wish would be gravel. No matter, the BWR has become known as much for its difficulty — all the glorious trappings of the Belgian Spring Classics — as it has for the celebratory atmosphere that pervades its every funky facet.

Finishing the Waffle redefines a rider's previous personal limitations. For those unprepared, who show up to play checkers instead of chess, the race can be brutal. For everyone who rides, the experience carves a deep memory of magical moments of humanity between strangers and friends along the way, as overcoming the challenges of the event connects people in meaningful and untold ways.

As mentioned earlier, this year's BWR will have the deepest field of professional riders in the event's history and an expansive list of hungry amateur riders drawn to the unique opportunity to race alongside their heroes, like World Tour and top pro riders.

The Belgian theme will be in full force with a host of unique entertainment features. A variety of craft beers reflecting the monastic brewing traditions of Belgium, especially a few from the Lost Abbey, will be a featured attraction for this unique occasion at Draft Republic. Of course, there will be warm Belgian waffles being cooked up all weekend.

Here is the 2023 Course Information:

WAFFLE –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42290102

207-km / 128.7-miles

~10,500 feet of climbing

84-km / 52-miles of unroad sectors (40%) 

3 KOM Sectors

3 KOS Sectors

3 KOD Sectors

9 Feed Zones

WAFER –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42290403

127-km / 79.0-miles

~6,500 feet of climbing

64-km / 39.6-miles of unroad sectors (50%) 

7 Feed Zones

WANNA –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42290435

70-km / 43.7-miles

~ 4,500 feet of climbing

16-km / 10-miles of unroad sectors (23%) 

3 Feed Zones

In terms of accouterments, every rider will receive: 

BWR swag bag that contains many important items – 

Sponsor Swag

BWR Premium branded item (like a bike bag, tee-shirt, or hat)
Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time) 

+ Pre- and Post-Race Waffles and coffee & beverages 

+ Beer 

+ Finisher’s Beer Trophy 

+ Bragging Rights

+ Potential to win money or prizes as top competitors in respective categories

T-shirts and BWR branded gear is available at registration and at the race

Figure out which tires would be best for this event and purchase them here

To learn more, visit https://belgianwaffleride.bike

EVENT INSURANCE INFO

Book your discounted lodging here