RAGBRAI introduces The Cyclone Loop at Jack Trice Stadium
June 5, 2018
There are many traditions in the state of Iowa, and RAGBRAI is one of them.
RAGBRAI is a non-competitive cross-state bike ride from the west side to the east side of Iowa. This year marks the 46th time this event will take place, and riders will be visiting Ames on July 24. It will be the first time since 2008 that Ames has been on the RAGBRAI route.
On Tuesday, RAGBRAI representatives stopped in Ames as part of their annual route inspection ride, and a welcome event was held at Jack Trice Stadium. At the event, it was announced that riders would have the chance to ride around the stadium as part of the route.
The special route is called “The Cyclone Loop.”
As the riders arrived, they were greeted by many RAGBRAI committee members from Ames in front of the Bergstrom Football Complex. There, the riders got together to take a group photo right next to the Cy statue in front of the complex.
As the riders took their photos, Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard stood by the north tunnel, waiting to make the announcement to the riders.
“This will be the first group that will experience The Cyclone Loop,” Pollard said. “We’re very excited to have the riders ride into Jack Trice Stadium with the scoreboard on and have a great finish to a day like today.”
“We are honored to be a stop on the great RAGBRAI bike ride,” Pollard added.
Pollard touched on the fact that he participates in RAGBRAI, and he informed the riders that he will be riding from Jefferson, Iowa, to Ames this summer.
One of the RAGBRAI co-chairs led the riders through the tunnel and onto the field as “Sweet Caroline” played in the stadium. The riders took their time going through the stadium, basking in the opportunity to be the first RAGBRAI riders to have the opportunity to complete the loop.
“Of all those miles and those riders, no one has gotten to experience the loop around Jack Trice Stadium,” Pollard said.
RAGBRAI will begin on July 22 in Onawa, Iowa and conclude on July 28 in Davenport, Iowa. Route updates can be found at https://ragbrai.com.
