RAGBRAI to start in Sioux City

It was close but no banana seat bike for Le Mars for the northwest Iowa overnight stop of RAGBRAI.

Announced Saturday, the route of this year's Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will kick off from Sioux City and run 442 miles with overnights in Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo, Manchester and the final overnight in Dubuque.

The complete route is yet to be announced.

This will be RAGBRAI's sixth Sioux City visit in its 38 years.

The route is flatter and shorter than most years, ranked the third easiest route since the bicycle ride was founded.

RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 day riders. It is now known as the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.