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Belgian Waffle Ride vs Leadville Trail 100 MTB

87
Belgian Waffle Ride
Del Mar, California · April
Tier 1 — Elite

The original BWR: 107 miles across 30 road and unroad sectors from Del Mar.

VS
89
Leadville Trail 100 MTB
Leadville, Colorado · August
Tier 1 — Elite

The Race Across the Sky. 100 miles at 10,000+ feet. The belt buckle that defines mountain biking.

Full Belgian Waffle Ride Profile Full Leadville Trail 100 Profile

Course Radar Comparison

LEN TECH ELEV CLIM ALT LOG ADV Belgian Waffle Ride: LEN:4 / TECH:5 / ELEV:4 / CLIM:4 / ALT:1 / LOG:5 / ADV:4 Leadville Trail 100 MTB: LEN:5 / TECH:4 / ELEV:5 / CLIM:4 / ALT:5 / LOG:3 / ADV:5 Belgian Waffle Ride Leadville Trail 100 MTB

Distance & Elevation

Distance
107 mi
100 mi
Elevation
7,367 ft
11,900 ft

14-Dimension Breakdown

Belgian Waffle Ride Leadville Trail 100 MT
COURSE PROFILE
Length
Technicality
Elevation
Climate
Altitude
Logistics
Adventure
EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT
Prestige
Race Quality
Experience
Community
Field Depth
Value
Expenses

The Verdict

Leadville Trail 100 MTB scores 2 points higher overall (89 vs 87), but the right choice depends on what you value most.

Choose Belgian Waffle Ride if...

"The race where bike handling skills outweigh FTP and 40% learn what DNF feels like."

  • You prefer a more remote, logistically challenging event
  • You prefer more technical terrain

Choose Leadville Trail 100 MT if...

"The mountain bike endurance race that defines the category. Bucket list for a reason."

  • You thrive at high altitude
  • You want a longer race (higher distance rating)
  • You want more climbing
  • You're chasing a bigger adventure factor
  • Community and post-race culture matter most

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is harder, Belgian Waffle Ride or Leadville Trail 100 MTB?

Leadville Trail 100 MTB rates as the more demanding race based on our composite difficulty score (averaging length, technicality, elevation, climate, and altitude ratings). If you're looking for the bigger challenge, go with Leadville Trail 100 MTB. If you want a more accessible race, Belgian Waffle Ride is the better pick.

Is Belgian Waffle Ride or Leadville Trail 100 MTB rated higher?

Leadville Trail 100 MTB scores 89/100 compared to 87/100 in our 15-dimension Gravel God Rating. The overall score reflects course profile, prestige, race quality, community, and value.

Which is better for beginners, Belgian Waffle Ride or Leadville Trail 100 MTB?

Belgian Waffle Ride is generally more accessible for first-time gravel racers, factoring in distance, technicality, and logistical ease. Check each race's full profile for distance options and beginner-specific advice.

When are Belgian Waffle Ride and Leadville Trail 100 MTB held?

Belgian Waffle Ride takes place in April and Leadville Trail 100 MTB in August. If your calendar allows, you could race both in the same season.

Where are Belgian Waffle Ride and Leadville Trail 100 MTB located?

Belgian Waffle Ride is held in Del Mar, California. Leadville Trail 100 MTB is held in Leadville, Colorado. Consider travel logistics, especially if you're flying in — check our full race profiles for airport and lodging details.

Still Deciding?

Get a personalized training plan for either race — tailored to your fitness, schedule, and goals.

Train for Belgian Waffle Ride Train for Leadville Trail 100 MTB

$15/week, capped at $249. One-time payment.

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