RAGBRAI has released their full route for the 51st ride across Iowa, and several local stops are included.
Thirty-five communities make up the pass through and meeting towns on this year’s route and will host riders enroute to their final destinations each day. Local communities that will be included along the route on July 23rd and 24th are Indianola, St. Mary’s, Milo, Lacona, Melcher-Dallas, Attica, Lovilla, and Knoxville as the overnight stop. Riders will enter Knoxville coming up from the south on Highway 14 and will leave town on Attica Road. Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage says with the full route being released, it will help even more with planning.
“When it comes to the route the biggest thing is with the county aspect of that because a lot of roads that are going to be involved and the intersections that are going to be involved from a law enforcement standpoint, that’s a huge thing as well as vendors. A lot of vendors want to know where they’re going to be at, and if they can set up in certain areas. It just makes planning and everything a bit easier.”
The southern route is roughly 434 miles and 18,375 feet of climb. That makes it the eighth shortest and hilliest route on record. An anticipated 20,000 plus registered riders, with participants from all 50 states and over 17 international locations are expected this year.