Belgian Waffle Ride Michigan

A new Belgian Waffle Ride Series event in 2022 from premier event producer, Monuments of Cycling, this event looks so promising Strambecco is already giving it a Best Midwest Gravel Event designation.  For the first time, Monuments of Cycling is bringing its iconic form of racing above the 45th parallel, where a vibrant cycling culture anticipates what is soon to be known as The Hell of the Great Lakes.

Belgian Waffle Ride events, created as extremely challenging races in the spirit of the great European one-day Spring Classics, are a truly unique series of races in North America.  In typical Belgian Waffle Ride fashion,  course routes or downloads are released only days before the event in respect for private landowners and areas that are permitted only for that one special day a year. There will be however, many hints and communications that will give all the information needed to choose the correct equipment and sector info needed for a successful ride.  BWR Series events typically offers 3 main route options:  The Waffle at 120-ish miles; the Wafer at 70-ish miles; and the Wanna at 40-ish miles.  Terrain is typically a mix of road, gravel, single track, and everything in between.

BWR Michigan is the signature race as part of a weekend long MoMITT Bike Fest.  This weekend long festival will include a refreshing menu of spectator friendly bike races, an Expo featuring local crafts and global bike brands, a large beer garden, multiple food options, live music and a venue with tons of family fun, set at Mt. Holiday in Traverse City.   Traverse city is the ideal destination to make a vacation or long weekend of.  It’s an easy to roll from one thing to the next as smoothly and fluidly as the roads and trails of this bike buzzing town.  Tour the wineries, scale a dune at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, or push off the Lake Michigan shoreline for a sunset cruise. Along with a host of close beach towns and bike hubs nearby, including Charlevoix, Sutton’s Bay, Glen Arbor, and Bellaire.

This inaugural BWR Michigan race, like other BWR Series events in California, N. Carolina, Utah, and Kansas, will have a deep field of professional riders and an expansive list of hungry amateur riders drawn to the unparalleled opportunity to race alongside their heroes. Like World Tour rider Peter Stetina, World Tour rider and local legend Alexey Vermeulen, and mountain bike champions Brennan Wertz and Hannah Otto. The Waffle will be offering prize purse to the top three riders, both female and male! Racers and event patrons will be treated to Belgian waffles and ales, frites, and a variety of culinary delights, more waffles and more beer on race weekend.