The irreverent, unconventional and unbelievably hard USA Belgian Waffle Gravel Series will be bit smaller next year. Organizer Michael Markx is dropping two events from the schedule and bringing back four classic one-day events, each offering an abundance of hard-man (or woman) suffering, Belgian waffles and of course bier.

The first race will be in the parched Sonoran desert of Arizona at BWR Arizona just east of Phoenix on 28 February. Riders can expect a challenging course that rolls past statuesque saguaro cacti (avoid crashing into them at all costs), up 20% gradients and over scads of “terrible terrain.” Sound fun?

BWR California, the 15th edition, will roll out from Del Mar on 3 May to traverse Southern California’s coastal mountains, climb sandy single-track and race down steep canyons. For anyone looking to get in a double-header, BWR California will also host a Roadie-Oh asphalt based gran fondo the day before on 2 May.

A month later gravel racers will head to Southern Utah for the 7th Hell of the South(West), BWR Utah, on 13 June for a dusty high-desert showdown in the historic Mormon frontier town of Cedar City.

The series then pulls up stakes (and waffle makers) to migrate north to the Big Sky state for the final event – BWR Montana. On 20 June for the second year in a row the old-west gunslinging town of Bozeman will host graveleurs high in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Each BWR event offers three gravel race lengths: ~100 mile big Belgian Waffle, ~65 mile Belgian Wafer and for first-timers a ~30 mile Wanna give it a go gravel bite.

Two events not returning for 2026 are BWR Asheville in North Carolina and BWR Mexico.

2026 BWR details and registration available HERE or just ask Freddy Merckury, the BWR AI chatbot.

Photo Credit: BWR

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