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Event Series Event Series: Tripel Crown of Gravel Series (BWR)

Belgian Waffle Ride California (San Diego) 2024

April 27 - April 28

This is the 13th edition of the Belgian Waffle Ride California (San Diego), one of the world’s most unique and respected gravel cycling experiences. It is fondly known as “The Hell of the North (County).  The event commonly attracts 1500+ gravel aficionados – pros, former pros, competitive amateurs, and avid enthusiasts. Produced by Monuments of Cycling and sponsored by Canyon Bikes, it was originally conceived as San Diego’s rendition of a Euro-style spring classic. BWR is considered one of the country’s most challenging mixed surface events and is billed as “The Hell of the North County.”  Belgian Waffle Ride California (San Diego) is the pinnacle event in the Belgian Waffle Ride Series and the final leg in the Tripel Crown of Gravel Series.  BWR CA is a staple in our Strambecco Best-In-Class-rated events for both the Southwest and California.  As a testament to the overall quality of BWR events, Canyon Bikes, one of the world’s most innovative bike brands, is the event’s title sponsor and the Tripel Crown Series.

Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) events have carved a unique space in the American cycling calendar, capturing the essence of Euro-style Spring Classics on North American soil. Known affectionately as the BWR, it represents a meeting point for the best cyclists across road, gravel, mountain, and triathlon domains. Still, it is equally welcoming to enthusiasts and even first-timer gravel racers looking to challenge themselves.   Every BWR event offers a blend of challenging terrain and natural beauty to create an exceptional experience you will never forget.

BWR CA benefits PeopleForBikes, an organization dedicated to making biking better for everyone. By uniting millions of individuals, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities, they aim to enhance the safety, accessibility, and enjoyment of biking. The organization’s efforts include advocating for bike-friendly policies, promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation, and improving bike infrastructure across the United States. Their coalition consists of over 325 supplier members and a grassroots network of 1.4 million supporters, demonstrating a broad base of support for biking as a vital part of a healthy, environmentally friendly, and fun lifestyle.

Belgian Waffle Ride Series

The Belgian Waffle Ride Series is a North American series offering some of the world’s most highly respected and well-organized gravel events/races.  The idea of the Series was conceived initially with the advent of Belgian Waffle Ride California (San Diego), well-known among cycling enthusiasts and pros alike as one of the most unique and difficult bicycle races in the US at 140-ish miles, 40 of which are off-road sectors, and 10,000+ feet in elevation gain.

BWR events are unique because they are classic, long bicycle races that feature various off-road sectors emulating the pave or cobblestones of Europe, making the varied terrain a challenge for riders’ technical skills, equipment, endurance, luck, and versatility. While none of the events intentionally feature mountains, they utilize a never-ending collection of punchy climbs that offer extreme physical challenges.  These are not for the faint of heart.   They are designed to challenge riders of all stripes and sizes, which is part of the allure of BWR events:  Extreme challenges that require extensive preparation, training, the right equipment, tenacity, and karma.

Each BWR venue showcases a challenging ‘unroad’ multi-surface course that takes advantage of each beautiful location’s unique topography.  Each route is uniquely designed to include a multitude of technically challenging sectors. Waffle courses range in length from 120-144 miles, Wafer courses between roughly 68-84 miles, and Wanna Rides, which are typically around 40 miles. Elevation gain will range from 6,500 feet to 14,000 feet for the various Waffle courses.  The current roster of BWR events in 2024 includes BWR AZ (March 1-2), BWR UT (April 5-6), BWR CA (27-28), and BWR NC (June 21-22)BWR BC (Sept 21-22), BWR Mexico (Queretaro – Nov 23-24)Monuments are also close to finalizing details of several new events for 2024, including another special event in Mexico.

The Tripel Crown of Gravel Series

The Tripel Crown of Gravel Series is a special competition within the full Belgian Waffle Ride Series lineup that involves participation in BWR Arizona, BWR Utah, and BWR California over 7 weeks.   It has been recreated to give riders, both professional and amateur alike, a chance to compete in three very different environments over a short period of time, offering the perfect blend of recovery and fitness gains for the early-season competition. The 2024 Tripel Crown will be contested for both Waffle and Wafer distances at BWR AZ (March 1-2), BWR UT (April 5-6), and BWR CA (April 27-28).  The competition will be a points-based omnium format for professionals and age-group riders. Riders competing for the Tripel Crown honors and prize purse (for pros only) will be scored based on the points achieved over the three races. The BWR CA will carry extra weighted points to complete the series.  There will be prize purses and prizes for the Male, Female, and Gender Diverse categories.

BWR CA Event & Course Info

Monuments of Cycling endeavors to make the courses faster yet technically diverse this year, taking the best of previous years and weaving together something even more fun. They’ve received permission to go on new trail / unroads sectors that have been off-limits to bikes. This year’s course will be quite different from last year’s.

Monuments are also adding a new division to celebrate the origins of the BWR. During the first many versions of the race before gravel bikes were invented, everyone attempted to finish the race on 28mm, 25mm, or even 23mm tires… depending on what their bike could accommodate. This OG Division, for those like us who are Luddites, is called the Road Bike Waffle. It is for those riding 28mm tires or skinnier tires, with drop bars and double chainring.

Events kick off Friday with a pre-race party and Saturday with the BWR Unroad Expo, teeming with live music, a beer garden, ample waffles, and the festive spirit of San Diego in the Spring.  You can also expect pre-rides and a comprehensive rider briefing. Sunday, race day, starts bright and early at 5 am with waffles and coffee to fuel the riders. By 7 am, the riders set off, with the first expected finisher zooming in around 1 pm. However, the course remains open until 7 pm, giving everyone a fair chance to complete the ride and claim their bragging rights. Post-race celebrations include revealing the winner of the Canyon Bike /OpiCure bike giveaway and loads of Rouleur’s signature Badass Ale. Also, equal prize money is awarded across three categories (M/W/Gender Diverse), with the top three (or, in some races, the top five) from each category receiving prize money.

Monuments of Cycling is investing in new ways to ensure rider support in nutrition and hydration is augmented for each event. In addition to diverse, well-marked routes, participants will find abundant traffic control personnel, police, and official vehicle escorts on the course. Additionally, each location will be hosted by a legion of like-minded volunteers who come together to showcase the hospitality of their communities. Throughout the ride, cyclists can find solace in the well-stocked aid stations every 20 miles.

BWR events are also known for great SWAG.  All participants receive the following:

  • BWR swag bag that contains many important items
  • Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time)
  • BWR Bad Ass Ale (trophy)
  • BWR Branded Item
  • Waffles
  • Beer
  • Fully marked course with traffic control
  • Stocked aid stations
  • Bragging rights

Be sure to check out the official 2023 Race Bijbel for all of the nitty-gritty details of this epic event.

Event Preparation & Training

To prepare for the challenges of a BWR experience, Monuments of Cycling has partnered with FasCat Coaching to create a customized Belgian Waffle Ride California training plan.  It is a comprehensive six-week training plan starting on February 5. Tailored to various skill levels and time commitments, the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced plans cater to participants taking on the 35-mile Wanna, 70-mile Wafer, or 130ish-mile Waffle courses. The centerpiece of each week is a progressively extended gravel simulation ride, mirroring the race’s demands. The plan includes nutrition and hydration tips practiced during these rides, ensuring holistic preparation. Starting with a field test to set training zones using the Optimize app, the program incorporates Sweet Spot and Tempo intervals, group rides, recovery techniques, rest days, yoga, and foundational exercises. As the event approaches, spicy intervals and a proper taper are integrated for peak performance on race day. For a personalized coaching experience and a waived start-up fee, consider hiring a FasCat Coach for a customized training solution.

Monuments of Cycling has also created the BWR Guide to Eating Like a Semi-Pro.  It covers all aspects of cycling nutrition, including hydration, supplementation, gut training, carb-loading, recovery, on-bike feeding, and more. It’s not intended as a specific plan. Rather, it gives you the tools and knowledge to figure out what personally works for you as an athlete–and what doesn’t.  The guide is available here.

The following routes are representative of prior year events.  The final 2024 routes will not be unveiled until the eve of the BWR CA Event in early April.

PeopleForBikes is dedicated to making biking better for everyone. By uniting millions of individuals, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities, they aim to enhance the safety, accessibility, and enjoyment of biking. The organization’s efforts include advocating for bike-friendly policies, promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation, and improving bike infrastructure across the United States. Their coalition consists of over 325 supplier members and a grassroots network of 1.4 million supporters, demonstrating a broad base of support for biking as a vital part of a healthy, environmentally friendly, and fun lifestyle.

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