CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AS THEY CYCLED THROUGH DES MOINES. WHILE NOT AS LARGE A GROUP AS YOU WOULD SEE DURING RAGBRAI WEEK -- THE NEARLY 40 MEMBER TEAM RIDING THE ROUTE RIGHT NOW -- MEAN BUSINESS. <MATT PHIPPEN/RAGBRAI RIDE DIRECTOR; :32-:35; :38- :39> <"WE'RE WATCHING THE ROADS. WE'RE TALKING TO THE COMMUNITIES." /SPLICE/ "WE'RE BASICALLY SPENDING TIME WITH TOWNS."> MATT PHIPPEN IS RAGBRAI'S RIDE DIRECTOR. MEANING HE -- AND OTHERS -- ARE IN CHARGE OF INSPECTING THE ROUTE FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD TAKE A BIKE DOWN. <MATT PHIPPEN/RAGBRAI RIDE DIRECTOR; 1:47-1:53> <"SO CRACKS LIKE THAT. POTHOLES. YOU KNOW -- JUST THE SIDES OF THE ROAD THAT HAVE WITHERED AWAY BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER."> PHIPPEN SAYS SO FAR -- EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. THEY STARTED THE WEEK OUT IN SIOUX CITY -- AND BY DAY FOUR MADE IT DES MOINES -- ABOUT HALF THE ROUTE. <MATT PHIPPEN/RAGBRAI RIDE DIRECTOR; 2:05-2:09> <"AFTER THE RIDE IS OVER -- WE'LL GO BACK AND RECAP WITH THE IOWA TOWNS AND TALK WINS AND LOSSES WITH THE TOWNS."> <KAYLA JAMES/KCCI 8 NEWS> <"IN THE MEANTIME -- HOST TOWNS ARE BUSY SETTING UP FOR THEIR BIG DAYS. FOR DES MOINES -- A LOT OF THE MAIN EVENT WILL HAPPEN HERE AT WATER WORKS PARK."> <TRINA FLACK/VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, CATCH DSM; 1:48-1:53> <"WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO TAKE THE WHOLE METRO AND MAKE IT A FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY FEEL."> DES MOINES-A- PALOOZA IS THEME IN THE STATE'S CAPITOL CITY. THE CATCH DES MOINES TEAM SAYS -- THE PLAN IS TO START PREPARING -- THE SUNDAY OR MONDAY BEFORE CYCLISTS STOP BY ON WEDNESDAY. <TRINA FLACK/VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, CATCH DSM; 2:39-2:45> <"IT TAKES A LOT OF MANPOWER TO CLOSE DOWN ROADS AND TO KEEP THE WRITERS SAFE AND DRIVERS SAFE."> WATER WORKS PARK WILL BE CAMPSITE: HOSTING A LYNYRD SKYNYRD CONCERT, ACTIVITIES, AND VENDORS. <TRINA FLACK/VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, CATCH DSM; 1:19-1:25> <"WE STILL ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS BOTH ALONG THE ROUTE AT THE IOWA STATE CAPITOL AND WATER WORKS PARK."> AND THE DISCOVER AMES TEAM -- IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS AS WELL -- FOR DAY THREE'S STOP IN TOWN. <CAROLE GIESEKE/DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, DISCOVER AMES; 2384; 16:53:40-16:53:43> <"WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS TO HOST THE RIDERS."> AMES'S THEME IS "FUN AND GAMES" -- AND JACK TRICE STADIUM WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE DURING THE DAY. < CAROLE GIESEKE/DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, DISCOVER AMES;2384; 16:50:20-16:50:24; 16:50:27-16:50:33> <"PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT.
RAGBRAI history: Tracking every RAGBRAI route from 1973 to 2023
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Updated: 4:01 PM CDT Jul 13, 2023
This summer marks the golden anniversary of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. The first RAGBRAI in 1973 started in Sioux City and ended in Davenport. This year's ride, the 50th, will do the same.Over the years, the ride that goes west-to-east from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River has become part of Iowa's culture. It's passed through about 800 towns and overnighted in more than 125 others.Here's a list of each of RAGBRAI's 50 routes, including every overnight town.RAGBRAI routes, 1973-20231973: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Ames, Des Moines, Williamsburg, DavenportMiles: 412Feet of climb: 12,637 Riders: 1301974: Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Guthrie Center, Camp Dodge, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Monticello, DubuqueMiles: 422Feet of climb: 12,648Riders: 2,0001975: Hawarden, Cherokee, Lake View, Boone, Newton, Sigourney, Mount Pleasant, Fort MadisonMiles: 450Feet of climb: 12,573Riders: 3,000Video: Lynyrd Skynyrd headlines RAGBRAI concert in Des Moines1976: Sidney, Red Oak, Harlan, Jefferson, Nevada, Grinnell, Iowa City, MuscatineMiles: 430Feet of climb: 13,737Riders: 4,0001977: Onawa, Ida Grove, Laurens, Algona, Clear Lake, New Hampton, Decorah, LansingMiles: 400Feet of climb: 8,479Riders: 6,0001978: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Humboldt, Iowa Falls, Vinton, Mount Vernon, Maquoketa, ClintonMiles: 440Feet of climb: 11,238Riders: 6,0001979: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Rockwell City, Story City, Tama, Fairfield, Wapello, BurlingtonMiles: 480Feet of climb: 11,836Riders: 6,0001980: Glenwood, Atlantic, Carroll, Perry, Webster City, Waverly, Elkader, GuttenbergMiles: 468Feet of climb: 11,912Riders: 6,0001981: Missouri Valley, Mapleton, Lake City, Greenfield, Leon, Centerville, Keosauqua, KeokukMiles: 490Feet of climb: 14,372Riders: 6,0001982: Akron, Cherokee, Estherville, Forest City, Charles City, Independence, Tipton, DavenportMiles: 523Feet of climb: 10,935Riders: 6,0001983: Onawa, Harlan, Guthrie Center, Ames, Clarion, Grundy Center, Manchester, DubuqueMiles: 492Feet of climb: 13,010Riders: 6,0001984: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Adel, Pella, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, BurlingtonMiles: 474Feet of climb: 11,221Riders: 8,0001985: Hawarden, Sibley, Emmetsburg, Humboldt, Mason City, Waterloo, Monticello, ClintonMiles: 540Feet of climb: 10,741Riders: 10,000KCCI archive video: Story City played host to RAGBRAI in 19891986: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Audubon, Perry, Eldora, Belle Plaine, Washington, MuscatineMiles: 479Feet of climb: 12,861Riders: 8,0001987: Onawa, Denison, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Forest City, Osage, West Union, GuttenbergMiles: 437Feet of climb: 10,165Riders: 8,0001988: Sioux City, Ida Grove, Carroll, Boone, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Fairfield, Fort MadisonMiles: 433Feet of climb: 11,609Riders: 8,0001989: Glenwood, Clarinda, Atlantic, Jefferson, Story City, Cedar Falls, Dyersville, BellevueMiles: 479Feet of climb: 13,357Riders: 8,0001990: Sioux Center, Spencer, Algona, Hampton, Oelwein, Cedar Rapids, Washington, BurlingtonMiles: 495Feet of climb: 9,064Riders: 8,0001991: Missouri Valley, Atlantic, Winterset, Knoxville, Grinnell, Amana, Anamosa, BellevueMiles: 432Feet of climb: 14,990Riders: 8,0001992: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Bedford, Osceola, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Mount Pleasant, KeokukMiles: 494Feet of climb: 13,455Riders: 8,0001993: Sioux City, Sheldon, Emmetsburg, Clarion, Osage, Decorah, Manchester, DubuqueMiles: 525Feet of climb: 11,047Riders: 8,0001994: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Carroll, Perry, Marshalltown, Marion, Maquoketa, ClintonMiles: 511Feet of climb: 12,420Riders: 8,0001995: Onawa, Lake View, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Tama-Toledo, Sigourney, Coralville, MuscatineMiles: 493Feet of climb: 10,674Riders: 8,000KCCI archive video: West Bend's Grotto steals the show1996: Sioux Center, Sibley, Estherville, Lake Mills, Charles City, Cresco, Fayette, GuttenbergMiles: 437Feet of climb: 9,869Riders: 8,0001997: Missouri Valley, Red Oak, Creston, Des Moines, Chariton, Bloomfield, Fairfield, Fort MadisonMiles: 464Feet of climb: 14,523Riders: 10,0001998: Hawarden, Cherokee, Rockwell City, Boone, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Monticello, SabulaMiles: 488Feet of climb: 11,857Riders: 10,0001999: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Waverly, Decorah, Manchester, BellevueMiles: 487Feet of climb: 13,490Riders: 8,5002000: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Greenfield, Ankeny, Knoxville, Ottumwa, Washington, BurlingtonMiles: 450Feet of climb: 17,612Riders: 10,0002001: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Denison, Atlantic, Perry, Grinnell, Coralville, MuscatineMiles: 506Feet of climb: 17,841Riders: 10,0002002: Sioux Center, Cherokee, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Charles City, Oelwein, Anamosa, BellevueMiles: 480Feet of climb: 13,712Riders: 10,0002003: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Bedford, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Bloomfield, Mount Pleasant, Fort MadisonMiles: 450Feet of climb: 17,368Riders: 10,0002004: Onawa, Lake View, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Hiawatha, Maquoketa, ClintonMiles: 490Feet of climb: 12,570Riders: 10,0002005: Le Mars, Sheldon, Estherville, Algona, Northwood, Cresco, West Union, GuttenbergMiles: 485Feet of climb: 12,874Riders: 10,000KCCI archive video: Former ride director credited with saving RAGBRAI2006: Sergeant Bluff, Ida Grove, Audubon, Waukee, Newton, Marengo, Coralville, MuscatineMiles: 444Feet of climb: 16,149Riders: 10,0002007: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Humboldt, Hampton, Cedar Falls, Independence, Dyersville, BellevueMiles: 477Feet of climb: 11,349Riders: 10,0002008: Missouri Valley, Harlan, Jefferson, Ames, Tama-Toledo, North Liberty, Tipton, Le ClaireMiles: 471Feet of climb: 16,465Riders: 10,0002009: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, BurlingtonMiles: 422Feet of climb: 17,494Riders: 10,0002010: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo, Manchester, DubuqueMiles: 442Feet of climb: 10,601Riders: 10,0002011: Glenwood, Atlantic, Carroll, Boone, Altoona, Grinnell, Coralville, DavenportMiles: 454Feet of climb: 13,447Riders: 10,0002012: Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa, ClintonMiles: 471Feet of climb: 12,981Riders: 10,0002013: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Perry, Des Moines, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Fairfield, Fort MadisonMiles: 407Feet of climb: 10,506Riders: 10,0002014: Rock Valley, Okoboji, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly, Independence, GuttenbergMiles: 428Feet of climb: 8,057Riders: 10,0002015: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Hiawatha, Coralville, DavenportMiles: 462Feet of climb: 12,879Riders: 10,000KCCI archive video: Adaptive bikes allow cyclists of all abilities to join RAGBRAI2016: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, Washington, MuscatineMiles: 420Feet of climb: 16,644Riders: 10,0002017: Orange City, Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon, LansingMiles: 411Feet of climb: 10,698Riders: 10,0002018: Onawa, Denison, Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, Iowa City, DavenportMiles: 428Feet of climb: 12,782Riders: 10,0002019: Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Winterset, Indianola, Centerville, Fairfield, Burlington, KeokukMiles: 427Feet of climb: 15,011Riders: 10,0002020: Ride canceled due to COVID-192021: Le Mars, Sac City, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Waterloo, Anamosa, DeWitt, ClintonMiles: 454Feet of climb: 11,500Riders: 10,0002022: Sergeant Bluff, Ida Grove, Pocahontas, Emmetsburg, Mason City, Charles City, West Union, LansingMiles: 430Feet of climb: 11,900Riders: 10,0002023: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama-Toledo, Coralville, DavenportMiles: 500Feet of climb: 16,549Riders: TBASource: RAGBRAI.com
DES MOINES, Iowa — This summer marks the golden anniversary of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
The first RAGBRAI in 1973 started in Sioux City and ended in Davenport. This year's ride, the 50th, will do the same.
Over the years, the ride that goes west-to-east from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River has become part of Iowa's culture. It's passed through about 800 towns and overnighted in more than 125 others.
Here's a list of each of RAGBRAI's 50 routes, including every overnight town.
RAGBRAI routes, 1973-2023
1973: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Ames, Des Moines, Williamsburg, Davenport
- Miles: 412
- Feet of climb: 12,637
- Riders: 130
1974: Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Guthrie Center, Camp Dodge, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Monticello, Dubuque
- Miles: 422
- Feet of climb: 12,648
- Riders: 2,000
1975: Hawarden, Cherokee, Lake View, Boone, Newton, Sigourney, Mount Pleasant, Fort Madison
- Miles: 450
- Feet of climb: 12,573
- Riders: 3,000
Video: Lynyrd Skynyrd headlines RAGBRAI concert in Des Moines
1976: Sidney, Red Oak, Harlan, Jefferson, Nevada, Grinnell, Iowa City, Muscatine
- Miles: 430
- Feet of climb: 13,737
- Riders: 4,000
1977: Onawa, Ida Grove, Laurens, Algona, Clear Lake, New Hampton, Decorah, Lansing
- Miles: 400
- Feet of climb: 8,479
- Riders: 6,000
1978: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Humboldt, Iowa Falls, Vinton, Mount Vernon, Maquoketa, Clinton
- Miles: 440
- Feet of climb: 11,238
- Riders: 6,000
1979: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Rockwell City, Story City, Tama, Fairfield, Wapello, Burlington
- Miles: 480
- Feet of climb: 11,836
- Riders: 6,000
1980: Glenwood, Atlantic, Carroll, Perry, Webster City, Waverly, Elkader, Guttenberg
- Miles: 468
- Feet of climb: 11,912
- Riders: 6,000
1981: Missouri Valley, Mapleton, Lake City, Greenfield, Leon, Centerville, Keosauqua, Keokuk
- Miles: 490
- Feet of climb: 14,372
- Riders: 6,000
1982: Akron, Cherokee, Estherville, Forest City, Charles City, Independence, Tipton, Davenport
- Miles: 523
- Feet of climb: 10,935
- Riders: 6,000
1983: Onawa, Harlan, Guthrie Center, Ames, Clarion, Grundy Center, Manchester, Dubuque
- Miles: 492
- Feet of climb: 13,010
- Riders: 6,000
1984: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Adel, Pella, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, Burlington
- Miles: 474
- Feet of climb: 11,221
- Riders: 8,000
1985: Hawarden, Sibley, Emmetsburg, Humboldt, Mason City, Waterloo, Monticello, Clinton
- Miles: 540
- Feet of climb: 10,741
- Riders: 10,000
KCCI archive video: Story City played host to RAGBRAI in 1989
1986: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Audubon, Perry, Eldora, Belle Plaine, Washington, Muscatine
- Miles: 479
- Feet of climb: 12,861
- Riders: 8,000
1987: Onawa, Denison, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Forest City, Osage, West Union, Guttenberg
- Miles: 437
- Feet of climb: 10,165
- Riders: 8,000
1988: Sioux City, Ida Grove, Carroll, Boone, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Fairfield, Fort Madison
- Miles: 433
- Feet of climb: 11,609
- Riders: 8,000
1989: Glenwood, Clarinda, Atlantic, Jefferson, Story City, Cedar Falls, Dyersville, Bellevue
- Miles: 479
- Feet of climb: 13,357
- Riders: 8,000
1990: Sioux Center, Spencer, Algona, Hampton, Oelwein, Cedar Rapids, Washington, Burlington
- Miles: 495
- Feet of climb: 9,064
- Riders: 8,000
1991: Missouri Valley, Atlantic, Winterset, Knoxville, Grinnell, Amana, Anamosa, Bellevue
- Miles: 432
- Feet of climb: 14,990
- Riders: 8,000
1992: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Bedford, Osceola, Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Mount Pleasant, Keokuk
- Miles: 494
- Feet of climb: 13,455
- Riders: 8,000
1993: Sioux City, Sheldon, Emmetsburg, Clarion, Osage, Decorah, Manchester, Dubuque
- Miles: 525
- Feet of climb: 11,047
- Riders: 8,000
1994: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Carroll, Perry, Marshalltown, Marion, Maquoketa, Clinton
- Miles: 511
- Feet of climb: 12,420
- Riders: 8,000
1995: Onawa, Lake View, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Tama-Toledo, Sigourney, Coralville, Muscatine
- Miles: 493
- Feet of climb: 10,674
- Riders: 8,000
KCCI archive video: West Bend's Grotto steals the show
1996: Sioux Center, Sibley, Estherville, Lake Mills, Charles City, Cresco, Fayette, Guttenberg
- Miles: 437
- Feet of climb: 9,869
- Riders: 8,000
1997: Missouri Valley, Red Oak, Creston, Des Moines, Chariton, Bloomfield, Fairfield, Fort Madison
- Miles: 464
- Feet of climb: 14,523
- Riders: 10,000
1998: Hawarden, Cherokee, Rockwell City, Boone, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Monticello, Sabula
- Miles: 488
- Feet of climb: 11,857
- Riders: 10,000
1999: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Waverly, Decorah, Manchester, Bellevue
- Miles: 487
- Feet of climb: 13,490
- Riders: 8,500
2000: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Greenfield, Ankeny, Knoxville, Ottumwa, Washington, Burlington
- Miles: 450
- Feet of climb: 17,612
- Riders: 10,000
2001: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Denison, Atlantic, Perry, Grinnell, Coralville, Muscatine
- Miles: 506
- Feet of climb: 17,841
- Riders: 10,000
2002: Sioux Center, Cherokee, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Charles City, Oelwein, Anamosa, Bellevue
- Miles: 480
- Feet of climb: 13,712
- Riders: 10,000
2003: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Bedford, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Bloomfield, Mount Pleasant, Fort Madison
- Miles: 450
- Feet of climb: 17,368
- Riders: 10,000
2004: Onawa, Lake View, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Hiawatha, Maquoketa, Clinton
- Miles: 490
- Feet of climb: 12,570
- Riders: 10,000
2005: Le Mars, Sheldon, Estherville, Algona, Northwood, Cresco, West Union, Guttenberg
- Miles: 485
- Feet of climb: 12,874
- Riders: 10,000
KCCI archive video: Former ride director credited with saving RAGBRAI
2006: Sergeant Bluff, Ida Grove, Audubon, Waukee, Newton, Marengo, Coralville, Muscatine
- Miles: 444
- Feet of climb: 16,149
- Riders: 10,000
2007: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Humboldt, Hampton, Cedar Falls, Independence, Dyersville, Bellevue
- Miles: 477
- Feet of climb: 11,349
- Riders: 10,000
2008: Missouri Valley, Harlan, Jefferson, Ames, Tama-Toledo, North Liberty, Tipton, Le Claire
- Miles: 471
- Feet of climb: 16,465
- Riders: 10,000
2009: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, Burlington
- Miles: 422
- Feet of climb: 17,494
- Riders: 10,000
2010: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo, Manchester, Dubuque
- Miles: 442
- Feet of climb: 10,601
- Riders: 10,000
2011: Glenwood, Atlantic, Carroll, Boone, Altoona, Grinnell, Coralville, Davenport
- Miles: 454
- Feet of climb: 13,447
- Riders: 10,000
2012: Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa, Clinton
- Miles: 471
- Feet of climb: 12,981
- Riders: 10,000
2013: Council Bluffs, Harlan, Perry, Des Moines, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Fairfield, Fort Madison
- Miles: 407
- Feet of climb: 10,506
- Riders: 10,000
2014: Rock Valley, Okoboji, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly, Independence, Guttenberg
- Miles: 428
- Feet of climb: 8,057
- Riders: 10,000
2015: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Hiawatha, Coralville, Davenport
- Miles: 462
- Feet of climb: 12,879
- Riders: 10,000
KCCI archive video: Adaptive bikes allow cyclists of all abilities to join RAGBRAI
2016: Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, Washington, Muscatine
- Miles: 420
- Feet of climb: 16,644
- Riders: 10,000
2017: Orange City, Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon, Lansing
- Miles: 411
- Feet of climb: 10,698
- Riders: 10,000
2018: Onawa, Denison, Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, Iowa City, Davenport
- Miles: 428
- Feet of climb: 12,782
- Riders: 10,000
2019: Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Winterset, Indianola, Centerville, Fairfield, Burlington, Keokuk
- Miles: 427
- Feet of climb: 15,011
- Riders: 10,000
2020: Ride canceled due to COVID-19
2021: Le Mars, Sac City, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Waterloo, Anamosa, DeWitt, Clinton
- Miles: 454
- Feet of climb: 11,500
- Riders: 10,000
2022: Sergeant Bluff, Ida Grove, Pocahontas, Emmetsburg, Mason City, Charles City, West Union, Lansing
- Miles: 430
- Feet of climb: 11,900
- Riders: 10,000
2023: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama-Toledo, Coralville, Davenport
- Miles: 500
- Feet of climb: 16,549
- Riders: TBA
Source: RAGBRAI.com
