belgianwaffleride

3rd Annual Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona

Feb 28 - March 1, 2025

Welkom to the first stop of the Belgian Waffle Ride Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel…

The Third Annual Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona is something we cannot wait to share with you. It’ll be a unique desert and mountain experience, which will be known at the Hell of the North Desert. Here is a snapshot of information about the event and what to expect…

BUT, THERE ARE ONLY 1,500 SPOTS THIS YEAR!

There is a formula to the creation of each new Belgian Waffle Ride, and this year’s first BWR and the kick-off to the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel, is the newest manifestation of this formula. The BWR AZ, which will take place in Cave Creek, Arizona, on the fringes of the Valley of the Sun, embodies the three ingredients that make the BWR so special. 1) A dream destination, 2) varied terrain to accommodate an extremely dynamic racecourse, and 3) a cycling community that is both vibrant and desirous of the Unroad experience only the BWR can offer.

1) Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, on the fringes of North Scottsdale, the BWR AZ will start and finish at Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek and take in a seamless connection of beautiful desert and varied challenging terrain with breathtaking views and near-perfect riding conditions. The area enjoys over 300 days of sunshine and incredible scenery, with conditions that are perfect for exhilarating Unroad riding, including crushing climbs to beautiful views of the surrounding desert. The destination is a picture-perfect town in the desert foothills that brings together history, culture, and nature in a unique atmosphere. The downtown area has plenty to offer the entire family, and the city is surrounded by many other destinations that you don't want to miss out on.

2) The topography, transitioning from the verdant riparian environment along the Salt River to the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, will offer towering saguaro cactus standing sentry against a backdrop of made-to-order sunsets. The springtime temperatures will nurture an array of stunning wildflowers among an ocean of vibrant green cacti and remain mild enough for riders to enjoy the full day of riding. The BWR AZ will bring along technical Unroads punctuated by pristine tarmac in the outskirts of Scottsdale. The course in and around Cave Creek will boast a fantastic concoction of terrible terrain, including pitchy undulations in Carefree, Tonto Forest mountains & washes, Rio Verde, sinuous single-track in McDowell Mountain Regional Park & its Sonoran Preserve, and smooth roads connecting gravel sectors completely unique to this desert playground. The dynamic nature of the course, which at roughly 122-miles is less than the usual BWR, will surely devastate even the most well-trained professional gravelleurs by its finale – a series of steep, paved climbs with pitches of 20%. How do you say, “Ouchie,” in Flemish. Oh yeah, it’s AUW! Kind of like, WTF! 

3) And then there is the third and final ingredient – a vibrant cycling community. Not only has the area been designated one of only 35 gold-level bicycle-friendly communities in the US, with its safe accommodations, miles of designated bike lanes, and, of course, a plethora of trails to explore – both urban and desert – it has an extensive network of cycling teams, enthusiasts, and every type of bike shop to support them. This Sonoran Desert locale is the most diverse desert in the world, offering amazing views along the rocky mountain ranges that surround it. No wonder this destination has become home to such an active and enthusiastic bike community.

What do riders get?

Large Branded Musette Bag from that contains many important items - 

$20 BWR BUCKS for use with BWR partners

Neversecond product - Official Performance Nutrition Partner

Sponsor swag of many varieties

Race Number & RFID Tag (for official finishing time)

Styrkr gels - Official Gel Partner along with The Feed musette bag at The Feed booth

Official T-Shirts and BWR gear are available for purchase at the Mumu booth.

Coffee is being provided by BWR partner Caffeine & Watts

Waffles are from Unwaffle

Beer is provided by The Lost Abbey from Vista, CA

The Duel in the Desert features the Wafer race this weekend and the Cactus Cup XC 40-mile next Saturday in McDowell Mtn Park. It’s not too late to register - https://thecactuscup.com

The BWR AZ is the first race of the BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series.

· Third Annual BWR AZ in Scottsdale, AZ on March 1, 2025

· 14th Annual BWR CA in San Diego on April 25 - April 27, 2025

· Sixth Annual BWR UT in Cedar City on May 23-24, 2025

· Inaugural BWR MT in Bozeman on June 28-29, 2025

Course info:

The courses will be well-marked with red arrows on the roads and blue flags on the trails. Still, we recommend everyone download the bible AND the course onto your computer.

Last Year's Courses:

Waffle –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45519042

103-Miles/166-Kilometers

~7,500 Feet of Climbing

7 Unroad sectors (virtually all are lengthy) 

58% Unroad

Numerous Washes and Chollas

3 Queen/King of the Mountain segments

3 Queen/King of the Dirt segments

3 Queen/King of the Sprint segments

6 Feed Zones

Wafer –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45519046

68.3-Miles/110-Kilometers

~4,000 Feet of Climbing

Several Unroad sectors (the rest is really nice road)

53% Unroad (virtually all are lengthy)

Numerous Washes, Water Crossings and Chollas

4 Feed Zones

Wanna –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45519050

• 33.4-Miles/54-Kilometers

• ~3,500 Feet of Climbing

• 2 Unroad sectors (the rest is really nice road)

• 25% Unroad (Long, Sandy, Wet or Dry, Rocky, Hilly, Ugly)

• Numerous Washes, Water Crossings and Chollas

• 2 Feed Zones

There is a prize purse for elite men and women.

There are age group awards for Waffle and Wanna. These are the age groupings –

Age group competition – determined by the age of a rider on December 31, 2025

18 & Under

19 – 34

35 – 39

40 – 44

45 – 49

50 - 54

55 – 59

60 – 64

65 - 69

70  & Over

Men’s and Women’s Live Race Day coverage will be on BWR’s Instagram account. Follow @BelgianWaffleRide

There are five Feed Zones on the Waffle course (four for Wafer, two for Wanna) to help riders get the proper hydration and nutrition from Neversecond. Neverscond has a full array of performance nutrition available to all riders. There will also be Stykr gels from The Feed. Other food and beverages typically on offer: Water, Coke, Bananas, Peanut Butter Pretzels, Fig Bars, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches.

Riders will also have the ability to fill their bottles on course with Neversecond. All stations are run by volunteers giving their time to make riders' experiences the best ever. Please give thanks to them… 

McDowell Mountain Cycles

Grind & Gears Bike Shop

Flat Tire Bike Shop

The Rob Dollar Foundation