The world’s largest gravel series gets another three venues for the fall, bringing the total number of races for gravel’s Quadrupel Crown to seven.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Bikerumor.
Good news, gravel lovers! The latest announcement from the organizer of Belgian Waffle Ride means you have three more chances to join its growing list of tour stops.
Last year, cycling events producer Monuments of Cycling put on four races for its Quadrupel Crown of gravel rides: in Arizona, California, North Carolina, and British Columbia. For 2023, it’s adding events in Utah, Kansas, and Mexico.
Created in the spirit of the great European one-day Spring Classics, the Belgian Waffle Rides offer multi-surface courses for a diversity of riding. Those surfaces include single track, sand, rocks, gravel, water crossings, cyclocross features, and some asphalt.
To continue driving attendance, the cycling company will not raise entry fees to reduce the impact of “inflation affecting everyone’s wallets,” it said in a news release. However, each Belgian Waffle Ride will have its own pricing and registration cap with lower prices for those who register early. Once the caps are reached, prices will go up.
The 2023 Quadrupel Crown
Riders looking to win the Belgian Waffle Ride’s Quadrupel Crown will compete in a points-based omnium format throughout all seven events.
But riders don’t have to ride all seven races to win. Points of their top four races are combined to decide who gets the Quadrupel honors and prize purse.
That allows riders to choose their spots — except for April’s waffle ride in San Marcos, California, which is mandatory for all Quad contenders.
Below are the dates of the seven Belgian Waffle Rides for 2023. All of them will feature in the omnium for the Quadrupel Crown of Gravel Series.
- Inaugural BWR AZ in Scottsdale, AZ, on March 3-5, 2023
- 12th Annual BWR CA in San Diego, CA, on April 14-April 16, 2023
- Inaugural BWR BC on Vancouver Island, BC, on May 26-28, 2023
- 3rd Annual BWR NC in Asheville, NC, on June 10-11, 2023
- 4th Annual BWR UT in Cedar City, UT, on August 25-26, 2023
- 3rd Annual BWR KS in Lawrence, KS, on October 13-15, 2023
- Inaugural BWR México in Queretaro, MX, on November 25-26, 2023
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Each of the seven race courses will showcase the “unique topography these beautiful locations have to offer,” organizers wrote. The variety of landscapes stretches from the old-growth forest of the Hell of the Great White North in British Columbia to the cobblestoned streets of the Infierno Del Sur in Queretaro, México.
Waffle courses range in length from 110 to 144 miles, with Wafer courses between 68 and 84 miles. A few of the events will also feature Wanna Rides — shorter courses typically around 40 miles. Elevation gain will range from 6,500 feet to 14,000 feet for the various Waffle courses.
Registration for the new Belgian Waffle Ride events opened on Jan. 10. Learn more about how to register here.
