Full RAGBRAI route announced

STATEWIDE — The full route for RAGBRAI LIII has been announced, and riders will see a substantial amount of Shelby County in the first few days of the ride.
The pass-through and meeting towns were announced Friday, and Ride Director Matt Phippen said the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will offer “quintessential American experiences.”
“If riders want to experience small-town Iowa, this is the year to do it,” Phippen said. “Every town on the route is a small town.”
The ride will begin Sunday, July 19, in Onawa, and participants will travel 58.5 miles to Harlan, the first overnight stay of the week. Along the way, they will travel through Turin, Soldier, Dunlap, Earling, and Westphalia. Dunlap is the designated meeting town. The first route will feature 3,465 feet of climb.
Mayor Christopher G. von Ahsen said the community is excited to welcome riders to Westphalia.
“Riders will enjoy a genuine slice of small-town Iowa at its best—clean, friendly, and rooted in strong German Catholic heritage, von Ahsen said.
“We look forward to seeing their expressions as they take in the church’s beauty and architecture, which reflects the faith and craftsmanship of our German settlers from the 1870s. This stop perfectly captures our theme of ‘Gottes Land’ (God’s Land) where the world is at its best.”
“After riding through the scenic Loess Hills on what promises to be a warm July day, they will roll into our quiet community of 126 residents and see the prominent St. Boniface Catholic Church, a historic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” he said.
He noted the Klubhaus plans to offer refreshments and light entertainment “in the spirit of traditional Midwest hospitality. “We also hope many riders will enjoy fresh lemonade sold by local children along the route—a simple, refreshing touch that highlights the wholesome character of our town.”
von Ahsen said the town has been quietly preparing for over a month. “At the request of RAGBRAI leaders, we kept discussions under wraps until the official route announcement Friday,” he said.
“Our town council held a closed session last month to explore the opportunity while maintaining confidentiality. Now that the route is public, we will move forward openly with volunteer coordination and final planning.”
“The last time RAGBRAI passed through Westphalia was in 1983, so it has been many years since our community had this honor. Although we are still in the early planning stages, I have every confidence that our residents will come together, as we always do, to create a warm, memorable experience for all the cyclists taking part in this great ride across Iowa,” von Ahsen said.
“We look forward to showing riders why our corner of Iowa truly feels like God’s Land.”
Following the overnight stay, riders will depart Harlan, then travel through Elk Horn and Exira, with Exira being the designated meeting town. Day two will end in Guthrie Center Monday after traveling 53.9 miles with 3,554 feet of climb.
Other overnight stops on the route are Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, and Dyersville before ending in Dubuque.
At 391.4 miles, this year’s ride is the shortest in RAGBRAI’s 53-year history; however, it is ranked the 10th hilliest, featuring 16,027 feet of total climb.