Le Mars, Iowa — RAGBRAI, the cross-state bicycle ride that brings thousands of cyclists to Iowa each summer will be starting on Sunday (July 25th) in Le Mars.
The route will be similar to the route they hoped to use last year, when the ride was canceled due to the pandemic, except that both Storm Lake and Maquoketa decided not to host overnight stops this year, citing complications caused by COVID.
RAGBRAI officials tell us cyclists and support personnel will spend the night before the ride begins in Le Mars. This is that city’s second time as host, having previously kicked off the ride in 2005. Sunday morning they’ll depart for the nearly-80 mile trek to Sac City, where they’ll spend Sunday night. This will be Sac City’s first overnight host city designation.
On Day Two of the ride, Monday, July 26th, riders will depart Sac City headed to Fort Dodge. They’ll put in 53.7 miles on Monday.
Tuesday, July 27th will find the riders and support personnel covering 54.9 miles, on their way to their third overnight stop, in Iowa Falls. Day three of RAGBRAI 2021 will offer the cyclists some optional miles of gravel on their way to Iowa Falls.
On Wednesday, July 28th, the contingent will be biking from Iowa Falls to Waterloo, a total of 68 miles.
Thursday, July 29th’s route will take riders from Waterloo to Anamosa, a total of 77.8 miles. It will be the fourth overnight visit to Anamosa for RAGBRAI participants.
On Friday, July 30th, RAGBRAI riders will cover the 30.3 miles from Anamosa to DeWitt. This will be DeWitt’s first time to be an overnight host for RAGBRAI, though they were a pass-through town on the 1994 ride.
RAGBRAI 2021 will wrap up on Saturday, July 31st, when riders complete the 31.6 mile trek from DeWitt to Clinton, where they’ll dip their front tires in the Mississippi River, signifying the completion of the week-long journey across the entire width of the state of Iowa. RAGBRAI 2021 will be the sixth time Clinton has marked the end of the ride.
