The early start times and anxiety of a 212km day over rough and hilly terrain can take a toll before the ride even starts. Dave Mas wasn't looking in good shape in the start grid but went on to finish the full BWR.

Photo gallery: 2018 Belgian Waffle Ride

April 17, 2018
2 minute read

Given the popularity of mass-start events featuring dirt routes and drop-bar bikes, it’s easy to understand how the Belgian Waffle Ride can be mistaken for a gravel event.

Closer inspection reveals that even though the 200+ kilometre route through northern San Diego County is defined by multiple dirt sectors making up a third of its distance and a majority of the elevation gain, the reality is this is a road race at heart. It’s just that the dirt sectors can make or break the race for any rider — or bike.

A diverse event attracts a diverse assortment, and the seventh edition of the Belgian Waffle Ride, held Sunday, brought out riders with experience in Grand Tours, mountain bike, ITU triathlon, road racing, and even fixed-gear crits. At some point on the course, all these skills became useful.

With a course that traversed everything from creek crossings to high-desert summits, and surfaces from smooth pavement to mile-long bone-jarring rock gardens, no one bike or rider would be consistently perfect. At some point in this race, every rider could count on having the right skills and equipment — and also the wrong skills and equipment.

In the end, Brian McCulloch (Elevate-KHS) took the win in the men’s field with just a half-second margin over Ted King, an unbelievably slim margin for a mass-start event over varied terrain, and the closest finish in BWR history.

But just to show how fortune can change in an event like this, the women’s defending champion Larissa Connors (Sho-Air) bested her competition by 30 minutes, with Laura King holding off Alison Tetrick by a few minutes.

In the men’s race, two dirt sectors and Highland Avenue established a select group of about two dozen, and once they approached the Black Canyon climb, riders and existing Strava records began to fall off quickly. The 10 survivors to make it out of Black Canyon together included multi-time Ironman winner Jordan Rapp, Ted King, multi-time Red Hook Crit winner Colin Strickland, and McCulloch, the eventual winner.

Cooperating on the open road but consistently attacking in the hills and the dirt, this group stayed mostly intact until McColloch launched forward and crossed through the final aid station with slightly over a minute in front of the rest. With the formidably steep Double Peak climb still in front of them, King went on own to close down the gap and the two returned to Lost Abbey Brewery together. McCulloch managed to make it to the last corner first in full criterium mode, and narrowly claimed victory after six hours and thirty-four minutes of ride time.

The popularity of this type of mass start event and this event in particular has attracted Canyon Bicycles as a multi-year sponsor, and race director Michael Marckx has indicated the event will see in increase in depth and profile in coming editions. A 30% attrition rate during the day shows the challenge of the Belgian Waffle Ride, and its 1200 starters gives an indication of the appeal of that challenge.

: The BWR begins and ends at Lost Abbey Brewery in San Marcos.

: Sunrise start times don’t seem burdensome considering many long-distance races have riders lining up in the pre-dawn darkness. Riders were lined up in the start area at 6:30am.

: Pre-race breakfast of waffles provides enough calories to maybe get through the first dirt sector of the course. Though the waffle breakfast is traditional at BWR, the demand was so high this year that the start of the race was delayed 30 minutes.

: The early start times and anxiety of a 212km day over rough and hilly terrain can take a toll before the ride even starts. Dave Mas wasn’t looking in good shape in the start grid but went on to finish the full BWR.

: Of the nearly 1200 riders that pinned on a number, 843 finished the Belgian Waffle Ride.

: The Lost Abbey Brewery hosts the start and finish of BWR, which is handy for those who want to start as well as finish their race with a beer.

: Cycling legend Tinker Juarez was greeted by fans old enough to remember his BMX days.

: Larrisa Connors kept it lighthearted while waiting for the start. Connors is accomplished in both road and mountain bike disciplines, an ideal combination for events like BWR.

: Despite describing BWR as race prep for Dirty Kanza, Ted King was as serious on course as he was at the start. With the absence of a defending champion, he was wearing bib number 1.

: Less than an hour into the race, the rocky trails around Lake Hodges were an early test for riders and equipment.

: Many miles of highway and dirt on road bikes made for a busy day for neutral support. Four vehicles were on course for the elite and amateur riders.

: Volunteers were strategically placed in case riders were lured off-course by competing breakfast options or confusing amounts of arrows.

: Masters national cyclocross champion Jake Wells chased the lead group on the long dirt climb up Black Canyon. As with many other elite riders present, BWR is key preparation for gravel events later in the season.

: The lead group of elite riders was more than two dozen strong on the Highland Valley climb about 90 minutes into the race.

: Nearing the end of the 23km Black Canyon dirt section, the elite group had whittled down to a dozen riders and overtook the final climb Strava KOM held by Phil Giamon.

: Professional triathlete Jordan Rapp, 2011 ITU Long Distance World Champion and a 6x Ironman champion, led the select group all the way up the Black Canyon climb and then much of the longest contious section of pavement, about 35km.

: Nearing the top of the final climb of Black Canyon, riders in the dozen-strong lead group were still together and pushing the pace but unable to creat any splits.

: The Belgian Waffle Ride is defined by the off-road sectors, but is really a road race that happens to have a third of its distance on dirt. Tactics and strength from road racing will always be key to a successful race.

: The climb up and out of Bandy Canyon has often been the site of the race-winning move at BWR and though Brian McCulloch pressed the remaining leaders, he was unable to create a gap.

: Using road bikes off-road makes perfect sense.

: BWR staffers were busy getting live race info on social media throughout the day.

: Laura King speeding her way back to the Lost Abbey Brewery, just a couple minutes ahead of third place.

: Walk, paperboy… the climbing technique up the 24% pitch of Double Peak was whatever a rider could manage at the end of a long day.

: Pavement can be tempting after more than 65km of dirt riding, but a code of honor at BWR keeps riders honest.

: A rider in the 65-mile Belgian Wafer Ride made a water stop.

: At nearly 190km, the lead group found more rocky conditions to navigate, but remained together.

: Bacon and this guy before the last remaining big climb of the day made the slog up Double Peak even more challenging.

: The flowing trails around the Del Dios Preserve eased riders into their first dirt experience of the 2018 BWR. More difficult dirt would soon follow.

: Dirt sectors at BWR include many different surface conditions, but with well over half the course miles being on pavement, the best tire choice is usually a 28mm or 30mm tubless road tire.

: Colin Strickland animated the lead group throughout the race. Strickland, a versatile cyclist who’s won multiple Red Hook Criteriums, can be found at some of the most challenging stage races in the country,and represents the type of cyclist that can be successful at events like BWR.

: Brain McCulloch tested the remaining leaders on the final trip up and out of Black Canyon, the last long stretch of dirt climbing.

: Forward momentum becomes more difficult for even race leaders when approaching the 200km point. Brian McCulloch was stopped by a rock garden while leading the group.

: Though the course differs every year, the start of BWR is traditionally about 12km neutral ride to the first dirt sector — at not-so-neutral pace of about 40kmh.

: Brian McCulloch leads Ted King into the finish, winning by a scant half-second after 212km of the roughest and steepest roads and trails in San Diego. This was the closest finish in the seven-year history of the BWR.