2025 Belgian Waffle Ride Series
United States >> 2026 Belgian Waffle Ride Series >> Stella Hobbs and Hayden Christian take Victory at 2026 BWR Montana
 
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Stella Hobbs and Hayden Christian take Victory at 2026 BWR Montana

Stella Hobbs and Hayden Christian delivered commanding performances at the 2026 Belgian Waffle Ride Montana, sealing victories on a day that showcased the full brutality and beauty of the “Hell of the Bozone as Hayden Christian and Cecile Lejeune secured the overall 2026 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series titles

Stella Hobbs and Hayden Christian take Victory at 2026 BWR Montana

With a completely redesigned course and a new home at Glen Lake Rotary Park in Bozeman, the final stop of the season brought together altitude, rugged terrain, and the pressure of the Quad-Tripel Crown finale.
 
The weekend opened with the BWR Unroad Expo, where riders, fans, and industry partners gathered for packet pickup, brand activations, gear demos, food, music, and the signature BWR community atmosphere. Bozeman’s hospitality carried the energy into race day, setting the tone for a dramatic showdown across Montana’s unforgiving landscape.
 
The updated Waffle course stretched roughly 106 miles with more than 7,500 feet of climbing, weaving through gravel roads, doubletrack, dirt, rocky sectors, and selective singletrack. With nearly 80 percent of the route on unroads, riders faced a relentless test of endurance, technical skill, and equipment choice. The terrain shifted constantly—smooth gravel giving way to washboard, exposed climbs, and rugged sectors that demanded precision and resilience.
 
In the men’s race, the finale produced one of the most thrilling finishes in BWR history. After more than 120 miles of racing, the top three riders from the breakaway arrived at the line shoulder-to-shoulder in a full-gas sprint. Hayden Christian surged ahead in the final metres, securing the Montana victory by the narrowest of margins and delivering a statement ride on the biggest stage of the series.
 
The women’s race saw a dominant performance from Stella Hobbs, who rode clear on the final sectors and soloed to her second BWR Montana title. Her strength on the climbs and technical confidence on the dirt allowed her to open a decisive gap, crossing the line alone and unchallenged.
 
Both races captured the essence of BWR Montana: unpredictable, punishing, and unforgettable. Riders who conquered the course were rewarded with sweeping views, roaring crowds at Glen Lake Rotary Park, and the satisfaction of surviving one of the toughest unroad challenges in North America.

Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series Champions

The 2026 Quad-Tripel Crown concluded in Bozeman with two riders rising above a season defined by altitude, heat, dust, tactical battles, and the unpredictable brutality of unroad racing. But the final standings also tell the story of the athletes who pushed the champions to their limits across California, Utah, and Montana.
 
Hayden Christian claimed the men’s overall title after a season built on consistency and resilience. His ability to read races, conserve energy, and strike at decisive moments made him the most complete rider in the series. The Montana victory was the perfect exclamation point — a sprint finish after 120 miles that showcased both his tactical sharpness and his raw power. Christian’s season was defined by calm execution under pressure, and Bozeman confirmed him as the most reliable force in the men’s field.
 
Just behind him, Lance Haidet delivered a season of grit and tenacity. Haidet’s strength in the early rounds, especially his standout performance in California, kept him in the hunt all year. He was often the rider animating the front of the race — attacking, stretching the field, and forcing selections. His third place in Montana, only fractions of a second behind Christian, reflected how tight the margins were between the top contenders. Haidet leaves the series as the rider who pushed the champion hardest.
 
In third overall, Matthew Saldana emerged as one of the revelations of the season. His steady scoring and ability to perform across wildly different terrains — from the heat of California to the altitude of Montana — earned him a well-deserved podium in the final standings. Saldana may not have taken a round victory, but his consistency across the series proved just as valuable, marking him as one of the most dependable riders in the Quad-Tripel Crown.
 
On the women’s side, Cecile Lejeune completed a dominant campaign to secure the overall title. Her back-to-back wins in California and Utah gave her a commanding lead, but it was her composed, disciplined ride in Montana that sealed the championship. Lejeune’s season was defined by control — she knew when to attack, when to follow, and when to simply ride her own pace. Even on days when she wasn’t the strongest, she was always the smartest. Her 2026 campaign sets a new benchmark for the series.
 
Finishing second overall, Hannah Shell delivered a season of resilience and upward momentum. Shell’s podium finishes across the series kept her firmly in contention, and her ability to perform on both technical and high-altitude courses made her one of the most versatile riders in the field. She was often the rider who refused to crack, even when the terrain turned savage. Shell leaves the series as the clear number-two rider — and the one most likely to challenge Lejeune in the future.
 
In third, Holly Breck showcased explosive strength and tactical aggression throughout the season. Her podiums in the early rounds kept her in the title fight, and even without a Montana result, her performances in California and Utah were strong enough to secure a top-three finish overall. Breck’s season was defined by bold racing — attacking early, forcing selections, and shaping the front of the race. She remains one of the most dangerous riders in the series when the course suits her.
 
Together, the top three men and women represent the full spectrum of unroad racing: power, strategy, consistency, and the ability to suffer across some of the toughest terrain in North America. The 2026 Quad-Tripel Crown ends with two deserving champions — Hayden Christian and Cecile Lejeune — but also with a deep field of riders who made the series one of the most competitive in its history.
 
2026 BWR Montana Waffle Top 10 Men
 
1. Hayden Christian (TREK / MAAP PRO.FWD) – 4:45:32.35
2. Elliot Thornblade (Forward Endurance Coaching) – 4:45:33.37
3. Lance Haidet (Colnago / SRAM / ZIPP / Velocio) – 4:45:33.51
4. Matthew Saldana (Cyclesport.com) – 4:45:36.54
5. Ryker Brand (ALLIED / Formula 369) – 4:45:51.17
6. Caleb Swartz (Mondraker / Easton Overland) – 4:55:25.35
7. Joseph Kerr (Montana State Cycling / FKT) – 4:56:53.10
8. Jack Elder – 5:01:08.58
9. Kai Applequist (Team RF Foundations p/b Geo…) – 5:07:23.01
10. Mac Tomkins (Accel Cycling) – 5:09:50.24
 
2026 BWR Montana Waffle Top 10 Women
 
1. Stella Hobbs (MAAP / ENVE / Tailwind) – 5:07:39.83
2. Cecile Lejeune (Trek Driftless) – 5:15:10.64
3. Hannah Shell (GoodLife Brands / Pirelli) – 5:35:16.31
4. Courtney Sullivan (Mamis p/b Incycle) – 5:43:41.14
5. Laurel Quinones – 5:54:14.93
6. Merrilee Thomas (MT Alpha) – 5:56:45.14
7. Chelsee Pummel (Bangtail Bike & Ski) – 6:11:26.23
8. Siena Hermon (Mondraker Bikes) – 6:16:51.47
9. Brianna Samuhel (MBO Simmonds Racing) – 6:36:01.49
10. Hannah Van Dusen – 6:46:53.35
 
2026 BWR Montana Wafer Top 10 Men 
 
1. Luuk MacKenzie – 3:01:46.97
2. Bennett Ford – 3:04:38.50
3. Kolbe Morgan (Dirt Camp Racing) – 3:07:04.91
4. Paul Bourcier (Elliston Coaching – Success…) – 3:10:05.26
5. Mark Nagy (Wolf Pack Cycling Club) – 3:10:37.94
6. Mike Unruh (CINCH Cycling) – 3:12:15.68
7. Schuler Bailey (Park County Youth Cycling) – 3:12:17.97
8. Joseph Rosentel (Medtronic Masters Racing Team) – 3:12:28.41
9. Bobby Perez – 3:15:02.83
10. Ian Burgess (Piece of Crepe MT / Burgessla…) – 3:15:36.16
 
2026 BWR Montana Wafer Top 10 Women 
 
1. Stella Hobbs (MAAP / ENVE / Tailwind) – 5:07:39.83
2. Cecile Lejeune (Trek Driftless) – 5:15:10.64
3. Hannah Shell (GoodLife Brands / Pirelli) – 5:35:16.31
4. Courtney Sullivan (Mamis p/b Incycle) – 5:43:41.14
5. Laurel Quinones – 5:54:14.93
6. Merrilee Thomas (MT Alpha) – 5:56:45.14
7. Chelsee Pummel (Bangtail Bike & Ski) – 6:11:26.23
8. Siena Hermon (Mondraker Bikes) – 6:16:51.47
9. Brianna Samuhel (MBO Simmonds Racing) – 6:36:01.49
10. Hannah Van Dusen – 6:46:53.35
 
2026 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series Overall Men
 
1. Hayden Christian – 173 pts
2. Lance Haidet – 165 pts
3. Matthew Saldana – 123 pts
4. Ryker Brand – 96 pts
5. Luke Pankratz – 21 pts
 
2026 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series Overall Women
 
1. Cecile Lejeune – 204 pts
2. Hannah Shell – 165 pts
3. Holly Breck – 157 pts
4. Courtney Sullivan – 154 pts
5. Siena Hermon – 68 pts
 
Link to 2026 BWR Montana Results: https://omnigoevents.com/events/bwr-mt-2026/results/?groupBy=gender