Welkom to the fourth Annual Belgian Waffle Ride NC, which will take place on June 22 at Kanuga Resort near Asheville, which is an incredible destination nestled on 1,400 stunning acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This historic setting features a beautiful 30-acre lake, 20- miles of trails, and full-service meeting and lodging facilities for up to 440 guests. 

This year we are planning a shorter and less hilly route that still features so much of the area’s glorious greenery. The race will be the fifth and maybe hilliest of the Belgian Waffle Rides. Last year it was roughly 131-miles and over 13,000 feet of climbing, making it the most challenging of all the 2023 BWR courses and earning it the title of THE HELL OF THE EAST. It’s probable the race will be run in hot and humid conditions, compounding the difficulty of the dynamic Unroad sectors. 

Created as an extremely challenging race in the spirit of the great European one-day Spring Classics, the BWR, with a Belgique theme, is an unusually difficult Unroad Race. There are three distances on offer: The longer Waffle Ride, the half as long Wafer Ride, and for those looking to get a taste of the fun without the life-changing training commitment we’re offering the Wanna Ride. This fourth annual BWR NC event will have a deep field of professional riders and an expansive list of hungry amateur riders drawn to the unique opportunity to race alongside their heroes. 

Prior to the event, there will be a special VIP event for the media, the course will be revealed in detail, there will special race-related presentations VIPS won’t want to miss, the pros will be interviewed, and cyclists of all stripes will be able to rub shoulders with all the celebrities on hand for the epic weekend. 

The BWR Unroad Expo promises to be a cool cycling party and is open to the public. A variety of beers reflecting the incredible brewing crafts of New Belgium will be a featured attraction for this unique occasion. Attendees can peruse a wide range of offerings from event sponsors and over 40 vendors! Racers and event patrons will be treated to Belgian waffles and plenty of food options for attendees. 

Here is the 2023 Course Information:

WAFFLE –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43107722

211-km/131-miles
~13,000 feet of climbing
20 Unroad sectors
20 Categorized Climbs
44% Unroad (long, muddy, wet, dry, rocky, loose, hilly, ugly) Numerous tight corners, roots, water crossings, and obstacles 

3 Queen/King of the Mountain segments
3 Queen/King of the Dirt segments
3 Queen/King of the Sprint segments
8 Feed Zones 

WAFER –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43107662

127-km/79-miles
~9,000 feet of climbing
Numerous Unroad sectors
44% Unroad (long, muddy, wet, dry, rocky, loose, hilly, ugly) hills, roots, water crossings, obstacles, more hills
5 feed zones 

WANNA –

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43107668

58-km/36-miles
~4,000 feet of climbing
Several Unroad sectors
31% Unroad (long, muddy, wet, dry, rocky, loose, hilly, ugly) chunky gravel, roots, water crossings, and rocks

1 Feed Zone 

In terms of accouterments, every rider will receive: 

BWR swag bag that contains many important items – 

Sponsor Swag

BWR Premium branded item (like a bike bag, tee-shirt, or hat)
Race Number and RFID Tag (for official finishing time) 

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

+ Beer 

+ Finisher’s Beer Trophy 

+ 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