Belgian Waffle Ride organizers maintain it was not anti-American sentiment that caused them to postpone this year's event until May of 2026, in spite of rumours that began to surface as to the the cause of the curtailment.
"Our organizing committee is wholly Canadian," said race spokesperson Alison Keple, who lives and works in the Cowichan Valley. "I am a local Cowichan Valley resident, and am responsible for bringing the Belgian Waffle Ride to Canada and am one of the main organizers of the Cowichan event. Our race director, Tom Bamford, is from Calgary and he operates Platinum Racing, a long-established event production company in western Canada. Our sponsors and partners are for the most part Canadian and many are local to the valley."
She said that while the Belgian Waffle Ride does have American roots, "we have an excellent relationship with the founders of the series, and we have never heard anything negative about our race or the overall organization from our athletes."
Keple did note that putting on a race that size "is extremely complex".
"Unfortunately this year we had some logistical challenges that we were not able to overcome. We do plan to be back in 2026 and planning is already underway," she confirmed.
The event, which would have been in its third year in the region, was to take place June 7-8. It has been put off until next spring. Roughly 385 riders were registered for the 2024 race. Organizers hope that many or more will return for 2026.
The lack of a race this year will have an impact on the region's economy said tourism development specialist Kenzie Knight of Tourism Cowichan.
"Tourism Cowichan recognizes the economic implications of the Belgian Waffle Ride's postponement, an event that typically welcomes over 500 riders and brings significant community benefits, including investment in local suppliers and employment," she said.
"We are fully supportive of the event's return in 2026 and eagerly anticipate once again showcasing the beauty and hospitality of the Cowichan region to all participants."
