May 04, 2026

Belgian Waffle Ride California 2026 | The Hell of the North County

The 15th Annual Belgian Waffle Ride California returned to the coast this year, setting up at the Del Mar Polo Fields for a weekend that continues to define what “unroad” riding really means.

Colnago gravel bikes in the BWR San Diego expo

ALMSTHRE expo tent in Del Mar for the belgian waffle ride race

person shopping in the ALMSTHRE expo tent

Double exposure photo from the expo tent

Rolling tarmac, loose gravel, sand, singletrack, and steep punchy climbs all stitched together into one dynamic course. It’s not one thing; it’s everything. And that’s exactly the point.

This is the second stop of the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel

following Arizona and leading into Utah and Montana. It carries weight in the series, but more than that, it carries history. This is where BWR started, and for us, these are the same roads where ALMSTHRE was born.

A weekend, not just a race

two people looking at the start line of BWR California

BWR California isn’t just Sunday. It’s a full weekend built around riding.

Saturday’s Gran Roadie-Oh opens things up with multiple distances, from a 50km spin to a full 100-mile effort, plus the Dubbel Header for those doubling up into Sunday. The Unroad Expo runs alongside it all; bikes, gear, food, music, and a community that feels more like a gathering than an event.

By Sunday, everything narrows down to one thing; the race.

Whether you’re lining up for the Waffle, Wafer, or Wanna, you’re stepping into one of the most established events in cycling. Pros and weekend riders, all on the same start line, all signing up for the same kind of day.

Gravel cyclists climbing up Highland Valley climb

The course

Every year changes slightly, but the identity stays the same.

Fast pavement into technical dirt. Smooth sections that let you settle in, followed by terrain that forces you to stay sharp. Sand that kills momentum. Climbs that come in waves. Descents that reward commitment.

It’s a course that doesn’t let you sit in one rhythm for too long.

From the front of the race

Lance Haidet, riding for ALMSTHRE, put together a strong ride and summed the day up best:

“This course is just so dynamic. There’s so many different kinds of dirt… singletrack, doubletrack, and then fast pavement. I just tried to always put myself in good position.”

After pushing the pace early and helping break things down to a small lead group, the race came down to the final moments.

“We got it down to three of us… kept trying to put pressure on the climbs and the technical sections. Got a gap late, but just didn’t quite have it on the pavement into the finish.”

Second place on the day; close, calculated, and a reminder of how these races are often decided in the smallest moments.

ALMSTHRE saddle bag on Lance Haidets bike post BWR California

Lance Haidet standing behind his colnago bike post gravel race

The bigger picture

What makes BWR California stand out isn’t just the course or the competition; it’s the combination of everything.

The setting. The people. The format. The willingness to mix surfaces and styles without over-defining what it’s supposed to be.

It’s a hard day on the bike, but it’s also a reflection of where cycling is right now; less rigid, more open, and built around experience as much as performance.