The only Euro-style Spring Classic on American soil, the BWR is once again being supported by the Lost Abbey Brewery, the coolest Belgian-inspired brewery anywhere west of Flanders. With the race venue hosted at the nearby North City in San Marcos, where the BWR Expo will have Draft Republic at the center of the festivities! Not to worry, not only will the race offer up the same type of insanity, challenge and unparalleled experience that has made it notorious and noteworthy, the BWR at North City also offers a special final Kermesse Kross circuit that all riders will get to enjoy, tackle, or otherwise survive in order to get to the actual finish line. This final cross-style finish will give fans and riders an extra bit of fun in celebrating the survival of all three of the BWR course options.

The 2023 edition has drawn way more world-class cyclists from around the globe than ever before... many coming to take on this Monument of Gravel foe the first time, and many more just to partake in the unique challenge of the day they have come to relish. Riders coming to win have their work cut out for them, as the pro field is DEEP. This year everyone will get to share the same start line with one massive, mixed field taking off at once. There is a new course to contend with. Like last year’s course, the routes will enjoy several of the new Unroad features added for 2022, yet we’ve added three new unroad sectors we have tried to permit for many, many years. This year, they’ve been added, and we are delighted.

The race has a growing cult following of fervent racers from cyclocross, road, unroad, and mountain biking that could be related to the BWR's stature in the now crowded event space of Gravel Racing, which wasn't a thing when the BWR took riders into the dirt on their road bikes all those years ago. It's important to note, the BWR was never set up to be a grinder event; it's a road race punctuated by severe terrain and 87-kilometers of Unroad riding, much of which some riders wish would be gravel. No matter, the BWR has become known as much for its difficulty — all the glorious trappings of the Belgian Spring Classics — as it has for the celebratory atmosphere that pervades its every funky facet.

Finishing the Waffle redefines a rider's previous personal limitations. For those unprepared, who show up to play checkers instead of chess, the race can be brutal. For everyone who rides, the experience carves a deep memory of magical moments of humanity between strangers and friends along the way, as overcoming the challenges of the event connects people in meaningful and untold ways.

As mentioned earlier, this year's BWR will have the deepest field of professional riders in the event's history and an expansive list of hungry amateur riders drawn to the unique opportunity to race alongside their heroes, like World Tour and top pro riders.

The Belgian theme will be in full force with a host of unique entertainment features. A variety of craft beers reflecting the monastic brewing traditions of Belgium, especially a few from the Lost Abbey, will be a featured attraction for this unique occasion at Draft Republic. Of course, there will be warm Belgian waffles being cooked up by Gear Grinder Grill all weekend.

This event is the second of the Quadrupel Crown of Gravel Series for 2023, the largest gravel series in the world. To compete for the Quadrupel Crown, riders must do the CA event, the KS event and two of the other seven BWR events around North America. There will be an Omnium points system to determine the winners, with the top four races counting. For all information on the Quadrupel Crown please visit: https://quadrupelcrownofgravel.com

THURSDAY April 13th

3-6pm – Expo vendor load in (optional)

6pm – Gravelstoke BWR Shakeout Ride – Lost Abbey Sanctuary 

https://www.gravelstoke.com/calendar/shakeout-in-the-hills-2023

FRIDAY April 14th

7am to 11am – Expo vendor load in

12noon to 6pm – BWR Unroad Expo and rider registration

12noon to 6pm – Free Bike Checks for Canyon owners – Registration area

3pm – BWR Pro Press Pulpit – Lost Abbey Monastery

4:00pm – BWR Route Reveal – Lost Abbey Monastery

6pm – Venue closes

SATURDAY April 15th

9am – FasCat Breakfast Burrito Ride for Pablove Foundation – Pablove tent 

10am to 6pm – BWR Unroad Expo and rider registration

10am to 6pm – Free Bike Checks for Canyon owners –  Registration area

1pm – Rider Briefing #1  - nutrition strategies from INFINIT – Lost Abbey Monastery

2pm – Canyon Ice Cream Social Ride – Canyon Showroom at Mesa Rim

4pm – Rider Briefing #2 - nutrition strategies from INFINIT– Lost Abbey Monastery 

6pm – Venue closes

SUNDAY April 16th 

5am – Venue opens, Waffles from Ames Works and coffee from Bub’s Naturals 

6:40am – Call to staging for all distances

6:45am – Rider announcements

6:48am – Pro Call ups

6:55am – Belgian National Anthem

6:57am – US National Anthem

7am – Race depart – all distances

9:30am – First anticipated Wanna rider finish

10am to 6pm – BWR Unroad Expo

10:30am – First anticipated Wafer rider finish

1:30pm – First anticipated Waffle rider finish

2pm – Wafer podium presentation  (Including age groups) – Draft Republic Stage

4pm – Waffle podium presentation  (Including age groups) – Draft Republic Stage

6pm – Venue closes

7pm – Course closes

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