Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — RAGBRAI has announced the first cancellation since the two-wheeled border-to-border state excursion started. The 48th trip was set to roll out from Le Mars to Clinton on July 19th.
Ride director Dieter Drake says the announcement was made now so that communities on the route don’t have to plan for hosting thousands of visitors while also managing a public health crisis.
(as said)” For us to force that upon them starting, you know, now if we were to say go, it was just way too much for them to be able to prepare for,” Drake says.
He says it will still be an economic hit for businesses along the ride route.
(as said)” Not only the food vendors but all the charters that support us, the bike clubs and teams. Not having RAGBRAI on their calendar is going to be a real hardship,” Drake says.
Drake says this year’s route will be used for next year’s ride. Riders can use their registration fees for next year, ask for a refund or make a donation to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Drake says some kind of virtual ride will take place the week RAGBRAI would have been on the road.
A competing event called Iowa’s Ride is scheduled to travel from Dubuque to Rock Rapids in mid-July. Iowa’s Ride organizers said on Facebook that they will decide later whether to go forward.
