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The inaugural Belgian Waffle Ride Montana didn’t just arrive in Bozeman—it kicked the door down, left tire tracks through the living room, and poured a cold recovery beer on the way out. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Montana’s vast gravel playgrounds, the first-ever BWR MT delivered a day that tested the sadists of the saddle and gave us the “Hell of the Bozone” in all its glory.
If you were there, you know. And if you weren’t, well, you better BTFU in 2026.
The Landscape: Gravel Heaven, or Hell—Depending on the Mile Marker
Bozeman rolled out a proper Montana welcome: crystal-clear skies, thick summer air, and a course that slapped you in the face with both beauty and brutality. Riders faced three course options, with the Waffle being the main course—111 miles of champagne gravel, blistering climbs, fast descents, singletrack surprise, and the kind of epic views that almost made the suffering worth it.
Course architect and BWR ringleader Michael Marckx called the shots from the field, noting early splits, hyping climbs, and chasing the lead riders with camera crew in tow. “We're at mile 22,” he reported, “and this is where it starts to get real. A really good climb coming up, and the leaders are looking... a little too good.”
The men's race was a slow-burn thriller, with early breakaways, group chases, and a finish tighter than your legs after 8 hours in the saddle. Russell Finsterwald claimed victory by mere seconds, holding off Daxton Mock, Lance Haidet, Luke Mosteller, and Joe Goettl in a final flurry through Bozeman’s sneaky singletrack.
Luke, who spent much of the day animating the front, nearly held on. “We cooked up a plan the night before,” he said post-race. “I bridged to the break, went all in, and got to the singletrack. But that finish... it was chaos.”
Meanwhile, the women’s race saw Stella Hobbs put on a masterclass. The Whitefish local stormed the front group early and never looked back—towing the boys on climbs, riding clean, and building an 11-minute lead by the line. “That was a really fun ride,” Stella said, smiling through the pain. “It broke on that first big climb, and I just spammed the gas.”
Courtney Sherwell (Santa Cruz/SRAM) powered into second despite a train delay (yes, really), followed by Flavia Oliveira Parks, Melissa Aitken, and Chelsee Pummel rounding out the top five.
The vibes were high all day. Locals cheered from porches. Volunteers crushed it. And the finish line saw laughter, cramps, and confessions of suffering. One rider rolled in saying, “I liked about 100 of those 110.6 miles.” when asked if she’d return next year, paused: “Right now? No. But tomorrow? Yeah.”
That’s the BWR effect—it hurts like hell, but it gets in your blood.
For some, it was redemption. For others, it was survival. And for a few lucky souls, it was podium champagne and Montana gravel glory.
Russell Finsterwald
Daxton Mock
Lance Haidet
Luke Mosteller
Joe Goettl
Stella Hobbs
Courtney Sherwell
Flavia Oliveira Parks
Melissa Aitken
Chelsee Pummel
BWR Montana capped off the inaugural Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel, a four-race saga across the unroad meccas of Arizona, California, Utah, and now Montana. With Bozeman as the grand finale, it lived up to every bit of hype. Expect 2026 to return one week earlier, with even more riders looking to BTFU and go full gas in Big Sky Country.
Whether you’re chasing points, podiums, or just the perfect post-race beer, BWR Montana is already legendary. Don’t miss it next year—your legs might never forgive you, but your spirit will thank you.
Stay tuned for registration details. And remember: Belgian the F*ck Up.
Cadence Cyclery Encinitas recently had the privilege of hosting PAS Normal Studios for their Mid Summer 200K ride. Regardless of your opinion of the PAS brand, there is no denying one thing. Between their US-based youth cycling program and now this group ride, they are here to impact the cycling community for the better. And they have some deeply passionate people working hard to make it happen. We are looking forward to more of this and hope to aid in their efforts however we can.
I’ve always believed that having a plan is good, but being flexible is even better. Our recent trip to Montana proved that point in the best way possible.
We recently caught up with Dave Malwitz, founder of Gravel Stoke, to chat about one of our favorite events: the Great Western Reroute. With a camera in his face, Dave shared the backstory, the spirit, and what’s next for this beloved gravel adventure.
