Riders face hilliest route ever in this summer’s RAGBRAI

Thousands of riders this July will tackle the most hilly route ever in the 51-year history of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

The 2024 route, announced late Saturday, will take riders July 20-27 from Glenwood in Western Iowa along a southern route ending in Burlington. At 424 miles, the route is the eight-shortest in RAGBRAI’s history, organizers said.

A RAGBRAI expo will be held July 20 in Glenwood. Then the route and overnight towns announced are:

Day 1: Riders leave Glenwood on July 21 and travel 44 miles over 2,955 feet of climb to Red Oak.

Day 2: Riders leave Red Oak on July 22 and travel 40 miles over 1,695 feet of climb to Atlantic.

Day 3: Riders leave Atlantic on July 23 and travel 79 miles over 4,384 feet of climb to Winterset.

Day 4: Riders leave Winterset on July 24 and travel 74 miles over 3,039 feet of climb to Knoxville.

Day 5: Riders leave Knoxville on July 25 and travel 60 miles over 2,441 feet of climb to Ottumwa.

Day 6: Riders leave Ottumwa on July 26 and travel 82 miles over 3,124 feet of climb to Mount Pleasant.

Day 7: Riders leave Mount Pleasant on July 27 and travel 45 miles over 1,099 feet of climb to Burlington.

That’s 18,737 feet of climb over the entire route. Meetup towns and an optional century loop — to reach 100 miles in a day — will be announced later.

Registration for this summer’s RAGBRAI began in November and its early-bird prices are in effect until Feb. 29, when the cost goes up. Weeklong rider passes currently are $225, and day passes for just part of the ride currently are $45.

To register and find other information on the ride, visit RAGBRAI.com.