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Onawa people praise RAGBRAI preprations & riders as event launches across Iowa

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RAGBRAI Riders depart Onawa, Iowa (Image by Siouxland Cyclists)
RAGBRAI Riders depart Onawa, Iowa, on July 19, 2026. (Image by Siouxland Cyclists)

More than 10,000 people began the 53rd RAGBRAI weeklong trek across Iowa from Onawa on Sunday.

Today, they are journeying on Day 2 from Harlan to Guthrie Center, on a day with an extreme heat advisory.

Onawa officials lined up live music entertainment, food, and housing and campaign options. The Onawa theme for the event was Rock And Roll Out.

Tamaricka Willis posted on social media, “Loved seeing all the travelers on our streets and throughout town. “

One other Onawa resident posted, “if they’d let us host every year, I would not complain. What a party!”

RAGBRAI has begun in Onawa seven times, with 2018 being the most recent time. The RAGBRAI ride will wrap up after 391 miles in Dubuque on July 25.


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Bret Hayworth is a native of Northwest Iowa and graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with nearly 30 years working as an award-winning journalist. He enjoys conversing with people to tell the stories about Siouxland that inform, entertain, and expand the mind, both daily in SPM newscasts and on the weekly show What's The Frequency.
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