2025 Oregon Gravel Series

Belgian

Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona

February 28 - March 01 2025
Cave Creek AZ
Date Confirmed
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Distances: 27, 79, 122 miles
Difficulty: Difficult terrain with longer, steeper hills
Limited to: 1,300 Participants

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

2025 Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona February 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 experience, one known as the Hell of the North Desert. This will be the first of four BWRs that comprise the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel, with BWR CA, BWR UT and the new addition, BWR Montana in Bozeman, respectively.

Here is a snapshot of information about the event and what to expect…

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 largest gravel series in the world, 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.

Here is the 2024 Course Information:

Waffle –

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 -

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 –

• 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

In terms of accouterments, every rider will receive: 

BWR musette bag from The Feed that contains many important items – 

+ Sponsor Swag

+ BWR Bucks for use at select expo vendors
+ Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time) 

+ Pre- and Post-Race Waffles and coffee & beverages 

+ Beer 

+ Finisher’s Trophy Beer

+ Bragging Rights

+ Potential to win money or prizes as top competitors in respective categories

T-shirts and BWR branded gear is available at registration and at the race

Figure out which tires would be best for this event and purchase them here

To learn more, visit https://belgianwaffleride.bike

Click here: EVENT INSURANCE INFO

For your bike shop needs or shipping your bike to Cave Creek please contact:

• Flat Tire Bike Shop - 6032 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 | (480) 488-5261

• Grind and Gears - 10 Easy St, Carefree, AZ 85377 | (480) 488-7981

• McDowell Mountain Cycles/Fountain Hills Bikes - 11879 N Saguaro Blvd | (480) 272-8741

WAFFLE FINISHERS WILL RECEIVE:

• BWR swag bag from The Feed that contains many important items
• Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time)
• BWR Bad Ass Ale (trophy)
• BWR Branded Item or BWR Bucks for cool stuff
• Waffles
• Beer
• Fully marked course with traffic control
• Stocked aid stations
• Bragging rights

Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona

 
Start Located At: 7100 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USA
 
 
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(619) 408-1650
Included

RIDERS WILL RECEIVE:

• BWR swag bag from The Feed that contains many important items
• Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time)
• BWR Bad Ass Ale (trophy)
• BWR Branded Item or BWR Bucks
•Waffles
•Beer
•Fully marked course with traffic control
•Stocked aid stations
•Bragging rights
• BWR swag bag that contains many important items
• Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time)
• BWR Bad Ass Ale (trophy)
•BWR Branded Item
•Waffles
•Beer
•Fully marked course with traffic control
•Stocked aid stations
•Bragging rights
• BWR swag bag that contains many important items
• Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time)
• BWR Can of Beer (trophy)
•BWR Branded Item
•Waffles
•Beer
•Fully marked course with traffic control
•Stocked aid stations
•Bragging rights
•Opportunity to level up to the Wafer in 2026

Prize / Race Categories

Pro and age group awards

Prize money for Quad-Tripel Crown

Prize Purse for Pros
 
Category Competition:
GC (overall General Classification winner/yellow jersey)
Attaquer Award - most aggressive
King/Queen of the Mountain
King/Queen of the Sprint 
King/Queen of the Dirt 
Hardman/Hardwoman (strongest contributor/blue jersey)
kUDOs Jersey (awarded to the rider(s) who is considered the most spirited, positive and happy rider, named in honor Udo Heinz/orange jersey)
 
Age Group Categories:
18 & under

19-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70 and over

 
Facilities
Parking
Toilets
Registration On the Day
Pre-Packet Pickups
 
Support for Participants
Route Signposted
Route Card
First Aid
Emergency Contact No
SAG Wagon
Outriders
Marshalls
Escort / Police Escort
Roving Mechanical Support
Mechanical Support at Rest Stops
 
Community
Volunteers
Bike Festival
After Party
Kids Fondo
Free Training Rides
Fundraising
 
Features
Course Timing
KOM/QOM Competition
Category / Race Prizes
Results Within 24 Hours
Photos
Downloadable GPS files
Finish Line Chute
 
Nutrition
Feed / Aid Stations
Pre Event Meal(s) Provided As Part of Entry
Post Event Meal(s) Provided As Part of Entry
Number of Aid Stations: 6
 
Number of Timed Hill Climbs
3 Hill Climbs
 
bwr
Dec 03 2024 - NEWS: Register NOW for the BWR Hell of the North Desert!
Nov 20 2024 - NEWS: The Hell of the Great White North Returns June 7 - 8, 2025
Oct 14 2024 - NEWS: Belgian Waffle Ride Expands with the Quad-Tripel Crown and New Events in 2025
Aug 22 2024 - NEWS: Registration for the 2024 Belgian Waffle Ride Mexico is Open
Aug 22 2024 - NEWS: Registration for the 2024 Belgian Waffle Ride Mexico is Open
Jun 24 2024 - NEWS: De Crescenzo and Burnett fastest at Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina
Apr 29 2024 - NEWS: Villafane and Beers fastest at 13th edition of BWR California
Apr 09 2024 - NEWS: Pete Stetina makes it a hattrick at Belgian Waffle Ride Utah
Mar 12 2024 - NEWS: BWR Tripel Crown of Gravel kicked off last weekend in Arizona
Oct 31 2023 - NEWS: Register NOW for the second Annual Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona
Feb 02 2024 - NEWS: Monuments of Cycling Announces New Partnership with Canyon Bicycles
Nov 29 2023 - NEWS: Register NOW for the ALL-NEW 2024 Tripel Crown of Gravel!
Sep 01 2023 - NEWS: Melisa Rollins and Brendan Johnston claim victory in Belgian Waffle Ride Utah
Apr 17 2023 - NEWS: Finsterwald and Jackson fastest at BWR California
Jan 05 2023 - NEWS: 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Series announces new Mexico event
Apr 29 2015 - RESULTS: 2015 SPY Belgium Waffle Ride Results
Apr 28 2014 - RESULTS: SPY Belgian Waffle Ride
Feb 28 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona
Apr 25 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride California
May 23 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride Utah
Jun 08 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride BC
Jun 28 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride Montana
Oct 04 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina
 
bwrseries
Dec 03 2024 - NEWS: Register NOW for the BWR Hell of the North Desert!
Apr 29 2015 - RESULTS: 2015 SPY Belgium Waffle Ride Results
Apr 28 2014 - RESULTS: SPY Belgian Waffle Ride
Apr 25 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride California
Jun 28 2025 - EVENT: Belgian Waffle Ride Montana