BWR California is race the entire Belgian Waffle Ride concept grew out of. Now in its 15th year, it's the flagship event of the whole BWR series, the one Michael Marckx built the brand around before it expanded to Arizona, Utah, Montana, North Carolina, British Columbia, and Mexico.
BWR California is arguably the most competitively important round of their Quad Tripel series, and it's the designated tiebreaker if the overall title is still open after all four events. It's also brutal by design: with some editions gathering over 10,000 of ascent on the course of 100+ miles.
Exact mileage shifts somewhat year to year as the course gets rebuilt around road and venue access — recent editions have been reported anywhere from ~107 to ~119 miles for the Waffle depending on the source and year. The route threads through coastal canyons, Rancho Santa Fe's rolling hills, and the rocky singletrack of Del Dios Gorge — a mix BWR treats as the definitive test of 'Unroad' versatility. Riders who are purely strong on power tend to get exposed by the technical sections; riders who can pick lines and manage energy across constantly changing terrain tend to survive.
Last year, the event shifted venues to the Del Mar Polo Fields, meaning a totally new course with the removal of the iconic Double Peak climb, which formerly served as the final test before the finish.
Registration opens in the fall prior to the race, first-come first-served, through the Belgian Waffle Ride series site. The 2026 Quad-Tripel Crown offered a 'Buy 3, Get 4' deal across Arizona, California, Utah, and Montana.