Des Moines, Iowa — For the first time ever, Orange City will be the starting town for RAGBRAI®.
The (Des Moines) Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa always starts in a western Iowa community near the Missouri or Big Sioux rivers and travels east toward the Mississippi River. The ride typically brings over 10,000 riders, plus support people to each town along the route, and requires major planning by the host communities.
The ride is always the last full week of July, starting this year early on Sunday, July 23rd, and ending on Saturday, July 29th. The riders usually start coming in on Friday, and some stay Friday night, but the majority come on Saturday, stay Saturday night, and leave on Sunday morning.
Ride officials say that while Orange City has been an overnight town six times, it has never been the starting town.
Officials report that other overnight towns for the 45th annual RAGBRAI® include Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon, and Lansing.
