A major cycling series has picked the Cowichan Valley for its first stop outside of the U.S.

Monuments of Cycling is bringing the Belgian Waffle Ride to Vancouver Island in May 2023 for three cycling races as well as a festival with live music, a beer garden and all kinds of family fun.

According to Alison Keple, a Valley resident and avid cyclist who made it her mission to bring the event to the Cowichan Valley, the Belgian Waffle Ride is a combination of surfaces, including road cycling and single-track mountain biking, making it a unique challenge.

B次元官网网址淧art of the fun is that there is no perfect bike for this event,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淵ou can choose your bike and choose your tires, but there is no perfect set-up.

B次元官网网址淚t challenges you. Everyone is going to have parts that theyB次元官网网址檙e good at.B次元官网网址�

It also features three distances B次元官网网址� the Waffle Ride, about 210km; the Wafer Ride, about half as long; and the Wanna Ride, half as long as the Wafer B次元官网网址� which allows amateur riders to compete alongside pros and Tour de France alumni.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of pro races donB次元官网网址檛 have amateur races at the same time,B次元官网网址� Keple says.

The Belgian Waffle Ride got its start about 12 years ago in San Diego, and eventually expanded to other locations in the U.S., such as North Carolina, Utah, Michigan and Kansas. Keple did the race in San Diego, and was hooked.

B次元官网网址淲hen I learned they were thinking of expanding [internationally], I thought Cowichan was perfect,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪o I gave them a call.B次元官网网址�

The event will be headquartered at Cowichan Exhibition Park, with close access to Mount Tzouhalem, Maple Mountain and Mount Prevost, as well as the Trans-Canada Trail.

B次元官网网址淭o have BWR come to Canada, especially in B.C., is the perfect fit given the limitless possibilities of trails, gravel roads, and varied terrain that we have to offer,B次元官网网址� says Jon Watkin, CEO of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Panache Cycling Sports, who will serve as race director. B次元官网网址淐ombined with excessively polite Canadian hospitality, great food, and incredible brews, we are looking forward to providing an experience that participants will rant and rave about.B次元官网网址�

For more information, visit monumentsofcycling.com or panachecyclingsports.com.