Davenport, Iowa (April 19, 2018) – It’s 100 days until RAGBRAI reaches Davenport! RAGBRAI is the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. 2018 is the 46th annual non-competitive bicycle ride across the state on July 22-28 for thousands of cyclists and their support crews from around the world. The route on the last day will take riders from Iowa City to Davenport.
RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz says, “We are excited for this year’s RAGBRAI from Onawa to Davenport! The route has been extremely popular with cyclists from all over the world as riders from all 50 states and approximately 20 countries have registered to ride the 46th edition of the oldest, longest, and largest cross-state cycling event in the world.”
Today the Davenport RAGBRAI Committee announces the route the cyclists will take from Blue Grass to the Mississippi River. It is a different route from 2011 and 2015 leading to River Drive. The dip site is at the Marquette Street boat ramp. Riders will then be directed to the Downtown Davenport Street Fest, expanded Freight House Farmers Market, and RAGBRAI Village in LeClaire Park to continue the celebration.
“We would like to encourage residents along the RAGBRAI route to cheer on the cyclists as they complete the 428-mile, week-long ride,” says City of Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch.
Each town is asked to create its own logo separate from the official RAGBRAI logo. The Davenport RAGBRAI Committee releases its logo today along with the theme of Made It Here! Alex Salaverria, Downtown Davenport Partnership, designed and created the logo.
“When cyclists finish the whole ride across Iowa they have a great feeling of accomplishment, and the last day has such a celebratory feel when they dip their tires in the Mississippi River, we wanted to capture that in our logo,” says Joe Taylor, Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and member of the executive committee.
The theme also incorporates a message of “Make It Here” describing the creative, hands-on essence of the Quad Cities region which is full of entrepreneurs, innovators, and collaborators.
Davenport RAGBRAI t-shirts will soon be for sale at locations throughout the Quad Cities and online at www.davenportragbrai.com. The gray, soft cotton t-shirt will feature the logo and theme.
Information about RAGBRAI arriving in Davenport can be found at www.davenportragbrai.com. Mandle Design, Inc. designed the website and continues to work with the Davenport RAGBRAI Committee as more information is added.
Inviting thousands of people into your community for an event means that volunteers are needed to help greet those visitors and assist them with directions and information. The Davenport RAGBRAI Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with many aspects of the event. Interested individuals can sign up at www.davenportragbrai.com.
RAGBRAI sponsors a kid’s art contest for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The Davenport RAGBRAI Committee is conducting a local art contest. Davenport’s winner will go on to be entered in the statewide contest with the grand prize winner receiving $350. The deadline to enter in Davenport is June 1. Details at www.davenportragbrai.com. The entries will be on display during RAGBRAI in the Figge Art Museum lobby.
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities at many levels, go to www.davenportragbrai.com
Long-term parking passes go on sale May 1 for registered RAGBRAI riders at www.davenportragbrai.com. Long-term parking is located at St. Ambrose University.
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