Welkom to the second stop of the Belgian Waffle Ride Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series — the 15th Annual BWR California, known as the Hell of the North (County…
The 2026 Belgian Waffle Ride California returns to the coast for a spectacular weekend at the Del Mar Polo Fields at Surf Sports Park, where rolling tarmac meets raw terrain in the Hell of the North (County).
Following the season opener in Arizona, BWR CA carries the heaviest weight of the four events that make up the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel, before the series heads to Utah and Montana.
This year’s BWR CA will once again push limits, fuel community, and celebrate the beautiful suffering that defines the unroad spirit.
The BWR Festival 2026: The Unroad Cycling Bash in Southern California
From May 2–3, the Belgian Waffle Ride Festival will transform the Del Mar Polo Fields into a sprawling playground for endurance enthusiasts, families, and fans. With live music, beer, food, and over 65 exhibitors, this is the hub of cycling culture on the West Coast.
It’s not just a race—it’s a weekend-long celebration of the endurance lifestyle, a gathering of adventurers, dreamers, and gravel-grinders who all share one thing: a happy disrespect for the usual.
Day 1: Saturday, May 2, 2026 – The Gran Roadie-Oh & Unroad Expo
Saturday sets the stage with The Gran Roadie-Oh, a Gran Fondo-style road ride for cyclists of all levels. Riders can choose from multiple distances to suit their appetite for speed, scenery, and suffering:
Feeling ambitious? Take on the Dubbel Header Challenge—ride the Roadie-Oh on Saturday and the BWR on Sunday to earn true Belgian bragging rights.
Meanwhile, the Unroad Expo will be in full swing at Surf Sports Park, featuring brands, artisans, and partners offering the latest in bikes, gear, and lifestyle. Enjoy the food court, local brews, live music, and a vibrant community atmosphere as you prepare for the main event.
Day 2: Sunday, May 3, 2026 – The 15th Annual Belgian Waffle Ride
Sunday brings the main event—the fifteenth running of the Belgian Waffle Ride California. The original unroad race that started it all returns with a brand-new coastal course mixing smooth tarmac, gnarly gravel, sandy sectors, and steep climbs.
Whether you take on the Waffle, Wafer, or Wanna, you’ll be part of one of the most storied and spirited cycling events in the world—where world-class pros and weekend warriors line up side by side to suffer gloriously under the Southern California sun.
At the finish, cold beer, hot waffles, and cheering fans await—all part of the grand BWR tradition of celebration and shared endurance.
New Course: This year we will remove the pinch places that caught some riders off guard and make sure the flow of the course doesn’t get impeded!
Last Year’s Course Highlights (this year will be different):
Waffle – 106.5-Miles/172-Kilometers
~7,500 Feet of Climbing
25 Unroad sectors with Flemish names
40% Unroad
7 feed zones
Wafer – 60-Miles/97-Kilometers
~3,750 Feet of Climbing
16 Unroad sectors
59% Unroad
Five feed zones
Wanna – 32.7-Miles/53-Kilometers
~2,500 Feet of Climbing
3 Unroad sectors
32% Unroad
2 feed zones