Hayden Christian and Stella Hobbs Claim Elite Titles at Belgian Waffle Ride Montana
Hayden Christian of Trek-MAAP Pro.Fwd secured the overall 2026 Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel title by winning the elite men’s race at the Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) Montana in Bozeman. In the elite women’s division, Stella Hobbs of MAAP-ENVE-Tailwind defended her dominance, winning the 115-mile race solo with a finishing time of 5:07:39, according to official race results.
How Hayden Christian Won the Quad-Tripel Crown
Hayden Christian entered the final stop of the series trailing Lance Haidet by two points. By winning the Montana event in 4:45:32, Christian vaulted to the top of the leaderboard to finish the season with 173 total points. According to the Belgian Waffle Ride official standings, Haidet finished the series in second place with 165 points after placing third in the final race.
The men’s race in Bozeman was decided in the final meters. A lead group of five riders—Christian, Haidet, Elliot Thornblade, Matthew Saldana, and Ryker Brand—approached the finish following 7,500 feet of climbing. After a late physical exchange on the final dirt section, Christian executed a decisive maneuver to clear Thornblade and sprint to the line, edging him by a single second.
Stella Hobbs Dominates Elite Women’s Field
Stella Hobbs’ victory in Montana marked her second consecutive win at the event. Hobbs completed the course in 5:07:39, finishing seven minutes ahead of runner-up Cécile Lejeune. This performance solidified Lejeune’s season-long consistency; despite the second-place finish in Montana, Lejeune secured the overall Quad-Tripel Crown title for the women’s division based on her earlier wins in California and Utah, as well as a third-place finish in Arizona.
2026 BWR Montana Elite Top Finishers
| Position | Elite Men | Elite Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Hayden Christian | Stella Hobbs |
| 2nd | Elliot Thornblade | Cécile Lejeune |
| 3rd | Lance Haidet | Hannah Shell |
Course Evolution and Series Context
The 2026 edition of BWR Montana introduced a new start and finish location at Glen Lake Park in Bozeman. The course, characterized by its “unroad” terrain, covered 115 miles (185km) and skirted the Blacktail mountain range. Organizers noted that approximately 70% of the route consisted of non-paved surfaces.
The Quad-Tripel Crown series rewards riders for performance across four distinct events: Arizona, California, Utah, and Montana. While Christian’s win in Montana was necessary to overtake Haidet, the series standings highlight the importance of depth; while Haidet showed strength early in the series, Christian’s steady progression—moving from 11th in Arizona to the top step in Montana—proved the deciding factor in the final tally.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel? It is a season-long competition format within the Belgian Waffle Ride series, awarding points based on finishes at four specified North American events.
- How is the winner determined? The title is awarded to the rider with the highest cumulative point total across the four series races.
- What defines the terrain at BWR Montana? The course features a mix of gravel, singletrack, and paved sections, with the 2026 route totaling 7,500 feet of elevation gain.
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