RAGBRAI, the world’s longest and oldest annual bicycle tour, made the USA TODAY’S 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards list as one of the best road cycling events in the U.S.
With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, USA TODAY’s 10BEST put together several lists of the best cycling and running races in the U.S.
Here’s where the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa placed and what to know about RAGBRAI 2026.
Where did RAGBRAI come in on USA TODAY’S 10BEST road cycling events?
RAGBRAI placed fourth on the list of best road cycling events and was the only event in the Midwest to crack the top 10.
Here are the best road cycling events in the United States, according to USA TODAY 10BEST:
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Hotter’N Hell Hundred: Wichita Falls, Texas
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TD Five Boro Bike Tour: New York City, New York
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Farm to Fork Gran Fondo: Lake Champlain, Vermont
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Colorado’s Ride: Colorado
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America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride: Lake Tahoe, California
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Tour of the Moon: Colorado National Monument and Fruita, Colorado
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El Tour de Tucson: Tucson, Arizona
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Valley of the Sun Stage Race: Phoenix, Arizona
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Tour of Somerville: Somerville, New Jersey
USA TODAY 10BEST uses a panel of experts to determine finalists in each category and turns to readers to vote and make the final selections.
What is RAGBRAI?
For more than 50 years, RAGBRAI has drawn tens of thousands of riders from around the world for a cross‑state journey through Iowa in the heart of summer.
Held during the final full week of July, the ride always travels west to east, beginning at or near the Missouri River and finishing along the Mississippi.
The ride began in 1973 with an idea from Des Moines Register Washington columnist Donald Kaul and copy editor and features writer John Karras.
When is RAGBRAI 2026?
Danielle Fineza, left, and Alex Ei, right, from Ames, Iowa, dip their ties into Pearl Lake during Day Two of RAGBRAI 52 on July 21, 2025, at Brown Park in Jackson, Minn.
RAGBRAI takes place July 19–25, running from Onawa in northwest Iowa to Dubuque in the northeast. The ride features 16,027 feet of climbing — the 10th most of any RAGBRAI— while covering 391.4 miles. That distance makes it the shortest RAGBRAI route to date, as routes have averaged about 470 miles over the decades.
More: RAGBRAI route revealed! Where will Iowa’s classic ride go in 2026?
How do I register for RAGBRAI?
Registration opened Nov. 15. Weeklong registration is currently $300 ($60 per day) until Thursday, April 30. prices increase on May 1, peaking at $400 beginning June 1.
For more information and to register for RAGBRAI, visit ragbrai.com/registration.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI voted among the best road cycling events in the U.S.