BEST BUDDIES BREAKAWAY CAMP: MALIBU
CYCLING EXPERIENCE
DEC. 2-6, 2026
What to Expect
Attendees at the Best Buddies Breakaway Camp are treated to an epic five-day cycling experience December 2-6, 2026. Set in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California, riders receive the amenities, support, and structure of UCI World Tour team.
The camp will feature Tour de France legends Alberto Contador & Sir Bradley Wiggins, INEOS-Grenadiers rider Cam Wurf, and four-time world champion triathlete Leanda Cave, providing wit and wisdom from their years of international racing experience.
Each day is a full curriculum with pro tips on climbing, descending, nutrition, group riding skills, and recovery. All riders are given the option to ride one of multiple route options each day to match your desired level of intensity and skill level. Those hoping for a structured, objective based approach to Camp will have the opportunity to work with our USAC Certified Coaching staff to achieve their performance goals. Prior to arrival at camp, Best Buddies staff will analyze training data of those partaking in this program and provide performance targets and support on key sectors of the days routes. Through focused pre-ride meetings and post-ride debriefs, staff will provide riders with the tools to achieve their goals, and feedback on how to maintain or improve their performance through a holistic approach to training during the week and beyond.
Based out of the Four Seasons Westlake Village, the Camp is supported by Pinarello, IOG Bike Fit and Consulting, the Alternate Route, and a full staff of licensed coaches, Tour de France mechanics, professional chefs, and massage therapists.
This five-star Camp helps to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies International’s global mission to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
What's included
Five days of professionally-led rides through Malibu with Pro guides SAG support.
- Ride alongside Tour de France legends Alberto Contador & Sir Bradley Wiggins, INEOS-Grenadiers rider Cam Wurf, and four-time world champion triathlete Leanda Cave.
- Comprehensive fit evaluation and adjustments by renowned fitter Ivan O’Gorman
- On-site mechanic for pre-ride, on-ride, and post-ride support
- Fully catered and luxury style health-conscious rest stops. Some items include homemade, nutrition-dense rice cakes and bars, chilled fresh fruit, electrolyte drinks, soda, coffee, water, gels, and chilled and scented towels
- A custom Best Buddies cycling kit including jersey, bib, and arm sleeves
- Daily pre-ride briefing, route overview, skills discussion and Q&A with coach over coffee and light breakfast
- Correspondence with coach in the weeks leading up to the Camp to discuss cycling and fitness goals
- Option for one-on-one break-out sessions with a coach throughout the Camp
- Every rider will depart with a general fitness calendar to achieve athletic and lifestyle goals for the year
Nutrition and Wellness
Providing a holistic approach to training with special attention given to nutrition and post-training recovery.
- Daily gourmet, nutrient-dense group breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- Daily post-ride massage and nutrition in the Best Buddies Recovery Room
- Presentations by leading fitness experts, including professional exercise physiologists
- Learn how train and recover for optimal performance day-in and day-out
- Hiking focused guided yoga, stretch, and foam-rolling sessions designed to improve flexibility, relieve tension, alleviate sore muscles, and promote recovery
Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Village
The Camp package includes a complimentary four (4) night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Village set in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains.
- Complimentary stay at the Four Seasons for four (4) nights.
- Guests will have access to the resort’s five-star spa, pool, and fitness facilities
- Complimentary daily laundry service
DAILY ITINERARY
Wednesday, Dec. 2 - Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026
Below is a sample itinerary of what each Camp day will offer. After each day’s ride we focus on your repair and recovery. While the mechanics tend to your bike’s needs, our staff will plug you into the wellness offerings of the Four Seasons. There will be customized recovery nutrition, massage, and full access to the spa’s amenities. This Camp transcends cycling. Our vision is to bring together elements of philanthropy, adventure, nutrition, wellness and a lifestyle to believe in for the ultimate six-star experience. This Camp is also the perfect opportunity to build new friendships and create lasting memories.
Day 1
Pro teams believe the most important stage of a big race is the day BEFORE the race starts. The “shakeout” ride ensures the entire ensemble – from mechanics to riders to drivers – are dialed in for the ensuing stages. The same applies to our Camp. This 20-mile out-and-back route will kiss the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, introducing both staff and riders to some modest climbs, flowy descents, and the riding protocol of the Camp. Coaches will also help set up the head units on riders’ computers to de-code some of those vital functions ranging from biometrics to navigation.
See Route & Schedule
Route
Schedule
12:00 PM Guest arrival at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration and Bike Builds
3:30 PM Welcome hike for non-cycling guests. 2.9-miles with 807 feet elevation gain
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM 90 minute – 23-mile Shakeout Ride with 2,000 feet of climbing at an easy pace with review of road rules with 5:30 pm Bike service, coaching consult, and fit service
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Welcome dinner with schedule overview and an introduction to our Best Buddies National Ambassador
Day 2
We roll out in a triumphantly tight 2×2 formation through rolling hills and ranches, descending to the northernmost portion of the Pacific Coast Highway, our trophy being the iconic rock pillars that serve as gates to the Malibu coast. The group will see the iconic Pacific Coast Highway and a beautiful rest stop at Point Mugu. From there the A group will proceed to tackle the Deer Creek climb and Mulholland Climbs while the B group will go straight to the Mulholland Highway before descending Decker and returning on Encinal Canyon road.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: Campers will embark on a challenging 68-mile journey featuring 7,000 feet of elevation gain. The ascent begins in earnest at mile 29 with Deer Creek Road. Eleven miles later, participants will tackle the second climb of the day, an 8-mile stretch up Mulholland Highway, which ascends 1,800 feet. The day’s final ascent is a Category II climb up Encinal Canyon.
- B Route: This 60-mile route kicks off with its first categorized climb—a Category I ascent up Mulholland Highway—occurring at mile 32.5. The second climb of the day will also be a Category II ascent, taking place on Encinal Canyon Road.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Four Seasons
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration, Fit Seminar, & Flat and Bike Maintenance
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Four Seasons
Day 3
This day we focus on climbing and descending skills, focusing less on speed and more on efficiency. We endeavor to have a coach stay within earshot of every Camper to provide guidance. Using photography and on-site observation, we work with each rider on mechanics and body position. The goal is to help each rider find a flow state within their level of skill and fitness. We provide athletes with a simple framework they can maximize while at Camp and ultimately make their own as they transition back to their home roads. As the cumulative stress of the Camp builds, our team focuses even more on proper fueling, hydration and recovery to prepare for Day 4.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: 54-mile day with a Categorized 2 climb (Stunt Road) coming at mile 14 and the Iconic Las Flores coming at mile 30. This is a 4-mile HC climb that covers 2000 feet of vertical gain.
- B Route: This is a challenging route for the Bs. They scale Stunt with the A group but get to fully recover at the rest stop. They skip Tuna Canyon and Las Flores, rolling instead down Schueren with a slow descending clinic.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Four Seasons
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Garmin Setup and Configuration, Fit Seminar, & Flat and Bike Maintenance
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Four Seasons
Day 4
The Queen Stage
We roll out in 2×2 pro team formation, instilling vital foundation skills for riders of all levels. Coaches and staff will guide Campers in the management of clothing, nutrition, and hydration as we press into the mountains for extended climbs and exhilarating descents down to sea level. After each major test, we regroup. The efficiency of the group formation resets each rider for the next climbing test up the canyon climbs towards home, where coaches help riders gauge the exertion of the day, set data frameworks, identify skill objectives, and begin the recovery process.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- A Route: Saturday is the traditional “Queen Stage,” the most decisive and demanding of the five. After scaling Westlake Boulevard, we dive down the car-free descent of Mulholland Drive. After return up the PCH we push up the challenging Decker Canyon Climb. We re-group and plunge back down Westlake Boulevard!
- B Route: This edition shaves off six miles and 1,000 feet less in climbing than the A route. After descending Mulholland with the A group, the Bs turn south on the PCH and scale the dreaded Decker instead of the longer and higher ascent of Yerba Buena.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch at Four Seasons
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in The Spa
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner at Four Seasons
Day 5
We roll out in 2×2 pro team formation, instilling vital foundation skills for riders of all levels. Coaches and staff will guide Campers in the management of clothing, nutrition, and hydration as we press into the mountains for extended climbs and exhilarating descents down to sea level. After each major test, we regroup. The efficiency of the group formation resets each rider for the next climbing test up the canyon climbs towards home, where coaches help riders gauge the exertion of the day, set data frameworks, identify skill objectives, and begin the recovery process.
See Route & Schedule
Schedule
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM Meditation / Stretching Session
5:30 AM – 7:30 AM Coffee and breakfast
7:30 AM Rider Meeting
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Road Route: 27.3 miles and 3.041 feet of elevation gain.
- MTB Route: Details coming soon
- Hike: 3 miles and 65 feet of elevation gain
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Lunch at The Little Nell
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Massage and compression therapy with protein smoothies in the Spa
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Check Out and Departure
Five-Day Breakaway Camp Package
$8,000 One-Time Rider Fee ($4,000 Deposit Due at Registration)
Once registered, you’ll have access to your own fundraising webpage, which you can easily personalize. Your webpage makes it easy for donors to give and for you to ask for and keep track of donations.
We’ll also provide you with fundraising materials, including email and letter templates, posters and step-by-step guides for holding your own fundraising events. And, you’ll have the support of a Best Buddies Coach. Whether you are new to fundraising, or an old pro, we’ve got all the tools you’ll need to not only meet, but exceed your fundraising goals.
Supporting Best Buddies
All funds raised benefit Best Buddies International, the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.