RAGBRAI will have a Tour de France feel this year as the ride will go beyond the borders of Iowa for the very first time in its 51 year existence. The riders will overnight in Milford, then travel 15 miles north into Minnesota. They will travel through some scenic locations before heading south again into Estherville for another overnight. The cumulative ride for the day will be 44.6 miles. Like the Tour de France which travels through portions of Denmark, Spain, and other neighboring countries, the thought of taking the ride into Minnesota seemed like a natural fit. Estherville will welcome the riders with a French feel as well. They are labeling their overnight stop as the “Tour de Ville.”
The next day, the riders will travel 71.4 miles into Forest City. They will travel through Armstrong, Swea City, Bancroft, Titonka, Woden, Crystal Lake, and into Forest City. In Forest City, organizers of the overnight stay have labeled the Day 3 overnight stop as “Ride Forest, Ride”. Organizers of the July 22nd event are going to meet with the public to discuss ideas about all aspects of the overnight stay. Julianna Burkholder is one of the organizers and wants volunteers to come to the meeting.
The organizers are meeting frequently to plan out the overnight event according to organizer Troy Thompson.
Another aspect of the RAGBRAI event that resembles the Tour de France are the participants, both riders and their support teams according to Thompson…